I still remember that morning of February 2017, waking up at a Government Guest House in Kochi when the shocking news of well-known actor being raped in a moving car was reported. The first thought that came into my mind was ‘This is not a normal rape; somebody is behind this’. I chided myself for even thinking that way at that moment.
Why would anyone even think of getting another person raped in this age and time? Can a human being be filled with so much of vengeance?
My own experience has been that this is not impossible. Whether it is Bhanwari Devi way back in 1992 where upper caste men raped her in front of her husband and son as a means to teach her a lesson or my own self 35 years back when I was targeted with a sexual assault as some men in the village where I was involved in a neo literacy campaign thought I was getting too big for my boots and was influencing young girls the wrong way.
After fighting sex trafficking and sex crime for over 30 years I have learnt sexual assault can be inflicted to teach a lesson, to humiliate, to build fear so that no others will raise their voice or for even a petty reason to settle scores.
But who could be so deeply bitter, inside or outside the film industry to target a well- known face that was a mystery! How can anyone fall so low to commission a ‘Quotation Rape’?
The days that followed, demonstrated an unprecedent awakening. The entire Malayalam film industry was forced to wake up. A first of its kind collective solidarity was openly seen in a public meeting. Emotional speeches were made; justice was demanded.
As the information trickled into the public domain, things became clearer. The sexual assault was meant to be a sextortion weapon as the act was being recorded. The rapist and his five accomplice did not think that the actor will ever report this. They had planned the act not just to permanently keep the person in silence but also keep her intimidated. Their plan miserably failed as the actor not only reported but geared up for a legal battle. The profile that emerged regarding these six men was that of 'contract criminals' who committed a crime when given a contract or quotation with a pre-defined amount.
But the question remained in my mind, for whom are these 'contarct criminals' doing this? Who is behind this? What is their motive?
In the weeks and months that followed, the story became murkier by the minute.
The initially arrested six men became the reason for the angle of criminal conspiracy to slowly unfold. A male actor who was also a producer and distributor became the prime focus. Just that description should be indicative of how powerful this person could be. The Special Investigation Team of Police was working overtime.
The sensational case had shaken the public conscience in a big way and women in the film industry for the first time started speaking in a ‘intolerant tone’ indicating that women in large numbers were facing sexual harassment rampantly within the industry and require a collective platform for their voices to be heard.
For the first time in the history of the country a’ Women’s Cinema Collective’ was founded with like-minded women and men within the film industry as an emotional and legal support system for anybody within the industry who is going through such an ordeal.
This collective pushed the Government to set up a committee to study the sexual harassment faced by women in the film industry. The Government set up the ‘Hema Committee’. At the face of it, the Government was desperately trying to maintain the narrative that they were prioritizing this matter at the highest level. But time clearly showed how hypocritical this was. The Hema Committee Report after being submitted was kept under lock and key for over 4 years until public pressure pushed the Government to finally bring the edited version of the report to the public domain. Again, due to public pressure some measures were taken, which in my opinion was pure hogwash. In any case they had to maintain pretenses for a favorable public image.
In the meantime, some of the active members of the collective faced their own set of backlashes for the choices they made. This was clearly seen in their lesser or diminished presence in films. Sadly, even the well-wishing financiers /investors could not come forward in acts of solidarity to salvage their careers.
In the meantime, the case was moving at a snail pace with multiple allegations floating everywhere. The male actor who was arrested, remanded and later came out on bail was represented by a high-profile lawyer who was using all legal loopholes to delay the proceedings. Over 200 witnesses were being examined. Many turned hostile and that is not very surprising.
Since the case had media attention, anything and everything was reported. Channels also had to position themselves to maintain public image. More than standing for ‘justice’ it felt compelled to play the role of the jury clearly giving their final judgement.
The scenes inside the court were no less dramatic, with prosecutors walking out and repeated request by the survivor to change the judge.
For nearly a decade, the survivor waited patiently for justice with never allowing despair to consume her.
After 8 years, the verdict was out. The first six who appeared in the first FIR were convicted, the rest four including the actor were acquitted of all charges. Conveniently all allegations of a criminal conspiracy went for a toss!
Some petty criminals just went about raping a high-profile person and recording the dastardly act and nobody was behind it! Is that even possible?
All the statements made by the convicted criminals indicates that the male actor was the conspirator. The acquitted actor vehemently denies and is threatening legal action.
Does that mean, he will file case against the convicted six who mentioned his name and described his involvement in detail? Does that also mean he will also go behind those who were behind his name being mentioned and had given evidence in the court?
Did everyone involved in this shameful case of ‘Quotation Rape’ get punished? Or is it the same case of some lower executors getting punished and the kingpin remaining at large?
I hope like so many other cases like the ‘Nithari Case’ where despite dead bodies of little babies being recovered in the same house the main accused is acquitted and the truth is buried forever; does not happen in this case.
The truth should come out.
Is the person now acquitted innocent? And if he is, then who is the real culprit?
As a survivor, I salute this brave woman who has survived this heinous crime, was under public scrutiny for years and still did not lose hope or her drive to fight for justice. I also salute all those who stood bravely as witnesses and testified despite the real risk of retribution.
While saluting is just a symbolic gesture, the real solidarity will be in continuing to support the survivor to unravel the truth and expose those behind such monstrosity.
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