Survivor insult case: Sandeep Varier gets temporary relief, no immediate arrest

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leader Sandeep Varier has received temporary relief in the case where he allegedly insulted the survivor of the Rahul Mamkootathil sexual assault case on social media. The prosecution informed the court that Sandeep will not be arrested until the police submit their report. The Thiruvananthapuram District Principal Sessions Court heard the case.

In his anticipatory bail plea, Sandeep Varier stated that he had never shared the complainant’s name or photo on social media, and that an old post was dug up by someone after the case came out.

The charges include publicly identifying the survivor, insulting her womanhood, and issuing threats. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court had rejected the bail plea of the fifth accused, Rahul Easwar, in the same case.

Sandeep Varier had earlier written to the Chief Minister, repeating his claim that the cyber complaint against him was politically motivated. He sent the complaint via email. He said the photo with the young woman was taken on her wedding day. At the time he shared the picture on social media, she had not filed any complaint against Rahul. He added that once he came to know the photo was being misused, he removed it from all his social media accounts.