Rahul Eswar in HC with pre-arrest bail plea

Kochi: Activist Rahul Eswar has approached the Kerala high court with a pre-arrest bail plea, apprehending arrest on the allegations of cyber harassment by the actor who had filed a complaint against Boby Chemmanur for allegedly making sexually coloured remarks about her on social media.
Although the actor lodged a complaint against Eswar with the Ernakulam Central police station, no case has been registered so far. However, Eswar expressed concern that he might be implicated as a co-accused in the case already registered by the police against Chemmanur. Chemmanur was arrested on Wednesday and remanded for 14 days.
The actor alleged that, following Chemmanur's arrest, Eswar orchestrated a cyber campaign to discredit her sexual harassment complaint and manipulate public opinion. She expressed her distress on social media, stating that Eswar's alleged actions caused significant mental pressure on her and her family.
In his petition, Eswar claimed that his criticism was constructive and did not contain false allegations or slanderous language. He asserted that his right to criticize the actor was protected under the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Eswar clarified that his comments were focused solely on her choice of attire, which he argued could attract attention, particularly from the younger generation. He maintained that his intention was to offer advice regarding her dressing style and not to defame her.
Eswar further contended that he did not support or justify Chemmanur's actions. He emphasized that, during news channel discussions, he had specifically stated that Chemmanur should apologize to the actor for his remarks.