Rahul Easwar Moves Kerala High Court To Quash 2025 FIR Over Alleged Obscene Remarks Against Malayalam Actress
Social commentator and right-wing activist Rahul Easwar has moved the Kerala High Court seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in 2025 based on a Malayalam film actress' complaint accusing him of targeting her on media and making obscene comments on her body and dressing.
In the private complaint, the actress has stated that following her sexual harassment complaint against businessman Boby Chemmanur, Easwar started targeting her on media channels and social media platforms.
She accused him of committing the offences under Sections 79 [Word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman], 196(1) [Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony] BNS and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act [Punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form].
After receiving the complaint, the Ernakulam Central Police registered an FIR on January 30, 2025 for the offences under Section 79 BNS and Section 67 IT Act.
Easwar now seeks to quash the FIR on various grounds, including inordinate delay in the investigation. It is also contended that the complaint does not satisfy the ingredients of the offences alleged.
When the matter came up yesterday, Justice Jobin Sebastian gave time to Easwar to take steps to issue notice to the complainant actress. The case now stands posted to October 22 for further consideration.
In July this year, the High Court had quashed the criminal proceedings initiated against Boby Chemannur after the case was settled between Chemmanur and the actress.
The petition is moved by Advocates Alex K.John, Jilcy Jacob, Fida Husna P.P., Anusree S. Kumar, Divya R., Reena Jacob, Ayonna George, Gego George, Nithin C. Regi, Sreenu Raj N., Ninan Thomas, and Muhammed Zain Shabeer P.P.
Case No: Crl.MC 7287/2026
Case Title: Rahul Easwar v. State of Kerala and Anr.