Rahul Easwar remanded; police seize laptop

YouTuber Rahul Easwar was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days on Monday after being arrested on charges of defaming and revealing the identity of the alleged survivor who had accused Rahul Mamkootathil, MLA, of rape and coerced termination of pregnancy.

Thiruvananthapuram Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Elsa Catherine George dismissed his bail application after observing that the release of the accused at this stage could potentially impede the investigation. The court also emphasised that making remarks against a survivor in an ongoing case, particularly through social media, was a serious concern and could not be treated lightly.

Mr. Easwar, the fifth accused in the case, has been booked by the Thiruvananthapuram Cyber Police under Sections 72 (disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences), 75(1)(iv) (making sexually coloured remarks), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 351(1) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act.

‘Sexually coloured remarks’

Opposing his bail plea, the prosecution informed the court that the investigation team had already recovered YouTube videos containing sexually coloured remarks. Besides, the accused’s custody was needed to trace additional electronic devices and prevent possible tampering with digital evidence, which could adversely affect the ongoing probe.

While the accused was arrested on Sunday evening, the investigation team took him to his house at Powdikonam in the city on Monday to seize his laptop that was purportedly used to upload content on his social media handles. The content allegedly revealed the identity of the survivor.

While being escorted to his house, Mr. Easwar told media persons that he was being pressured to stop speaking in support of Mr. Mamkootathil. He asserted that he would continue to defend the Palakkad MLA despite such tactics.

Six persons including Congress leader Sandeep G. Varier have been booked in the same case based on the survivor’s complaint. Mr. Varier, who is the fourth accused, submitted an anticipatory bail plea at the court following Mr. Easwar’s arrest.