“We’re planning to rape you. Be ready. #Avanodoppam".
This was one of the messages sent by a young man named Rojan to actor Parvathy, over her comments about the Mammootty film Kasaba. The online outburst over the actor calling out the misogyny in the film has clearly taken an ugly turn, and the Kerala police have now caught a second person in the case.
Rojan, who hails from Kollam, was tracked down by the Kollam police to his home, and has now been picked up for questioning. A police officer who spoke to TNM confirmed that Rojan’s arrest will be recorded as soon as the Kochi police – who are investigating the case – arrive to take him into custody.
The young man, who is pursuing a degree from a tutorial college, had sent three direct messages to Parvathy on Instagram. Parvathy had handed over the screenshots of these messages to the Kerala police, as this was one of the first direct rape threats that she had received.
In the first message he abused her, in the second and third he had issues rape threats.
Police officials confirmed that using Rojan’s profile details; they reached the Nehru Memorial Higher Secondary School in Kollam, and traced his home address.
“He told us that when he sent the message to Parvathy, he did not think much about it. He was angry, and therefore decided to send a rape threat. He was sure that he wouldn’t get caught, and therefore sent the message to the actor,” an official who is part of the team questioning Rojan told TNM.
The police have so far seized a computer and a laptop from Rojan’s house. "He is from a regular family, his brother works abroad. This is the problem with people like him, they send things on impulse, they think they can't be traced."
On Wednesday, the Ernakulam Town South police arrested Printo C for his alleged involvement in the abuse. Hailing from Vadakanchery, Printo had reportedly threatened the actor that she would never be able to work in the film industry again and that Mammootty fans will ensure the same. He had also abused her family. Printo has been booked under Sections 67 and 67 A of the IT Act (publishing or transmitting sexually explicit material electronically) and Sections 507 (anonymous criminal intimidation) and 509 of the IPC (outraging the modesty of a woman).
On Thursday, Printo was released on bail, and this was celebrated by several people on Facebook, who continued to outrage against Parvathy.
A message on a Facebook group that says, 'Our pearl is out'. (Celebrating Printo's bail).