Kochi: The Kerala High Court will take up today the anticipatory bail plea filed by activist Rahul Eshwar, who faces fresh allegations of violating bail conditions by allegedly insulting the complainant in the Rahul Mankootathil case through social media.
The plea was filed on Monday in connection with a case registered by the Thiruvananthapuram City Cyber Police, as Rahul Eshwar apprehends arrest for an alleged breach of bail conditions. The High Court is also expected to seek the state government’s response on the matter.
The case stems from a YouTube video uploaded on January 4, which the survivor claims contained defamatory and abusive remarks against her. Following the video’s release, she approached the city cyber police and demanded legal action, including cancellation of Rahul Eshwar’s bail, alleging continued harassment through social media.
Denying the allegations, Rahul Easwar has maintained that the statements made in the video were based on facts, that he did not insult the survivor, and that he has not violated any bail conditions.
Rahul Eshwar had earlier been arrested and remanded in a case related to allegedly insulting the woman who had filed a complaint against MLA Rahul Mankootathil. Rahul was taken into custody on November 30 after allegedly making repeated defamatory remarks and was granted bail only after 16 days in jail.
After the Thiruvananthapuram ACJM Court rejected his initial bail plea, citing lack of cooperation with the investigation, Rahul Eshwar had launched a hunger strike in prison. However, following his release on bail, he allegedly uploaded another video, prompting the survivor to file the latest complaint.
The High Court’s decision on the anticipatory bail plea is expected to have significant implications for the case and for the enforcement of bail conditions in matters involving social media conduct.
