Ramya meets police commissioner over online abuse by Darshan fans

Bengaluru: Actor-politician Ramya on Monday met City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh and filed a complaint against fans of actor Darshan who allegedly threatened her with rape and murder.

Ramya aka Divya Spandana said she was “disillusioned and disappointed” by the abusive posts on social media. “It reflects the kind of environment we are in and the mental health of people sending these kinds of messages. It is a reflection of unemployment, and perhaps they are uneducated… As celebrities, we are used to getting trolled but when it gets to this level, it is time to speak up,” she told DH.

Ramya said she had taken courage from ordinary girls who had effectively countered abusive trolls by naming and shaming them. “I am amazed at their courage and strength,” she said. The police commissioner had forwarded her complaint to the cyber crime section and promised action, Ramya told DH.

Last week, the Supreme Court had criticised the Karnataka High Court’s decision to grant bail to actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, accused in the Renukaswamy murder case. Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga, was allegedly kidnapped and murdered on June 8 last year for sending obscene messages to the actor’s friend Pavithra Gowda.

Ramya had reacted, on her social media account, to the court's latest observations: “SC is a ray of hope for the common people of India — justice for the family of Renukaswamy.” This triggered many purported Darshan fans to attack her and post rape and death threats on Instagram.

Ramya then shared screenshots of the abusive messages and comments and wrote on Instagram: “No difference between Renukaswamy’s messages and DBoss fans messages. It’s because of trolls like this who have misogynistic mindset that women and young girls are subjected to harassment and rape and murder.”

Support from other quarters

Earlier in the day on Monday, the Karnataka Women’s Commission came out in support of Ramya. Nagalakshmi Chowdary, who heads the Karnataka Women’s Commission, urged the city police commissioner to bring the guilty to book.

Nagalakshmi Chowdary told DH: “It is such a sad state of affairs— on the one hand, we are fighting for justice, and on the other, we have people passing such derogatory remarks against women.”

Film Industry for Rights and Equality (FIRE), a group comprising film professionals, has also come out in support of Ramya. It has written to Home Minister G Parameshwara demanding action against those responsible for the online abuse.