Thiruvananthapuram ,18 Dec (H.S.):The Thrissur City Police have registered a case against Martin Antony, a convict in the 2017 actress assault case, for allegedly circulating a video on social media that purportedly disclosed the identity of the survivor and levelled defamatory allegations against her. The case was taken up following a formal complaint lodged by the survivor with the Thrissur Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG), in which she detailed escalating online abuse and harassment after the video surfaced.

According to police sources, the survivor submitted 16 web links through which the video had been circulated on various platforms. The complaint asserts that the video, allegedly disseminated by Martin, not only revealed personal details that could identify her but also claimed that the survivor had conspired against actor Dileep along with a few others — a claim she dismisses as false and malicious.

The survivor stated that the online attacks have intensified since the video began circulating, causing severe distress and reputational harm. She urged the authorities to act immediately to remove the content and initiate legal proceedings to prevent further dissemination. The police have begun investigating the links provided and are examining digital evidence to identify additional instances of circulation.

Martin is the second accused convicted in the assault case. Along with five others — Pulsar Suni, Manikandan B., Vijeesh V. P., Saleem H., and Pradeep — he was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The case, one of the most widely followed in recent Kerala judicial history, saw a long and complex trial involving numerous witnesses, electronic evidence, and unprecedented public scrutiny.

On December 8, the trial court acquitted actor Dileep (P. Gopalakrishnan), Charley Thomas, Sanilkumar alias Mesthiri Sanil, and Sarath G. Nair of all charges, citing insufficient evidence. The verdict triggered strong reactions across Kerala, with survivor rights groups and sections of the film industry expressing both disappointment and resolve to continue the legal battle.

Legal experts note that disclosing the identity of a sexual assault survivor is a criminal offence under Indian law, and sharing defamatory or misleading content online can attract additional charges under the IT Act.

The police have assured swift action, stating that cybercrime units are now examining the digital trail. Meanwhile, the survivor has urged the public to refrain from sharing or endorsing any content that violates her privacy or questions the legitimacy of her complaint.

The investigation is ongoing.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman