Sandeep Varier Granted Interim Relief; No Arrest Until December 15

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress leader Sandeep Varier has received temporary respite from arrest in connection with a case involving the alleged disclosure of the identity of a complainant who filed a rape case against MLA Rahul Mankootathil. The decision ensures that Varier will not be apprehended until December 15, as authorities await the submission of the official police report. His anticipatory bail application is scheduled for further consideration on the said date.

Varier had sought anticipatory bail from the Principal Sessions Court following the registration of a case by cyber police. The charges stem from allegations that he revealed the name of the victim who accused MLA Rahul Mankootathil of rape.

In his petition, Varier asserted that the police action against him was politically motivated. He vehemently denied disclosing either the victim’s photograph or her identity, as claimed by the prosecution. Varier clarified that a wedding photograph of the victim had been shared on Facebook approximately a year ago and had recently reappeared in news feeds, implying no intentional disclosure on his part.

The case has also seen the arrest of social observer Rahul Eeswar, who was taken into custody by police for allegedly attempting to insult the woman’s dignity and sharing her identifiable information across various channel discussions and social media platforms. Eeswar is named as the fifth accused in the case, while Sandeep Varier is listed as the fourth. Other individuals implicated include Mahila Congress leader Ranjitha Pulickal, advocate Deepa Joseph, and Deepa Mathew.

The cyber police initiated the investigation and registered a case after the complainant filed a formal complaint alleging a widespread cyber-attack. She provided specific links to comments and posts made against her across different online platforms, detailing the nature of the harassment and identity disclosure.

Rahul Eeswar, unlike Varier, has not been granted bail by the court. The judiciary expressed concerns that his release at this preliminary stage could potentially impede the ongoing investigation. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court underscored the gravity of making public references about the victim on social media, especially while the investigative process is underway.

Further developments in the case against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mankootathil emerged with the surfacing of audio clips and messages online, which are believed to have strengthened the prosecution’s position. The complainant had also formally approached Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, leading to the official registration of the rape case and the subsequent formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to delve deeper into the allegations.