Honey Rose-Boby Chemmanur case may be a deterrent but what about other women?

During the bail hearing of Boby Chemmanur, who was arrested for sexist comments aimed at woman actor Honey Rose, the prosecution quoted an observation of the High Court. 'Even commenting on the body structure of a woman will attract the offence of sexual harassment'. It was a response to the counsel of the accused, who said that the complainant was in the habit of showing her whole body and twirling during dance performances in order to attract the audience. The prosecution, while quoting an HC observation, was driving home the point that how sexually coloured comments are hurled at women with a sense of impunity even when there are laws in place.

It didn't take Honey Rose even a week before she saw her harasser in jail for insulting her womanhood. The pace at which the complaint was filed and the arrest was recorded is certain to act as a deterrent for the offenders. Choosing to act also means going through trauma over and over again and then bearing with the long, frustrating wait for justice.

"If an ordinary woman were to file a case like Honey Rose did, the outcome would never be the same," remarked J Devika, professor at the Centre for Development Studies. "Honey Rose is a celebrity, and she has expressed full confidence in the law, but how many ordinary women could claim the same level of assurance?" she questioned.

She shared a personal experience from 2019 when she filed a sexual harassment case against a male professor who subjected her to severe verbal abuse at a college in Kannur. "There was no mechanism in that college for me to even lodge a complaint against him. I had to take the matter to the police," she explained.

"The trial is still ongoing, and the verdict remains pending. It just keeps getting delayed," she said, expressing her frustration. She stressed the lack of concern for the arduous process and the physical toll of pursuing a case. "As for me, I have the means to travel to Kannur for every hearing, but that’s not the reality for many women. There are women who would struggle to endure this traumatic process repeatedly," she added, pointing out the systemic challenges faced by others in similar situations.

Devika also spoke about the challenges she faced in bringing the incident to court. "This man is so powerful; he did everything in his power to manipulate the case. But ultimately, it made it to court," she said. She acknowledged that the verdict might not come until she’s in her 60s or 70s. However, for her, the greatest victory lies in the fact that a case has been filed against him. "The case will remain, and as long as it does, he cannot leave the country," she added, calling it her form of justice.

Activist Sreelakshmi Arackal, who has filed numerous complaints against cybercrimes, recounts how she was subjected to cyberbullying when she reported on a particular group. The delay in action is even annoying. " I filed a complaint based on a girl’s account about men recording inappropriate videos of their girlfriends and sharing them online. Unfortunately, the police have yet to take any action on the matter,” she said.

She observed that while the Honey Rose case may deter trolls from casually commenting on people’s photos, the road to justice is still a long one. She also pointed out the dismissive and insensitive behaviour of some police officers when women file complaints. “There have been times when they’d say things like, ‘Isn’t it because you wore this or posted that that trolls commented?’ or ‘Why were you going live at night?’” she recalled. "Authorities who are well-versed in cybercrimes and understand their sensitive nature should be placed in the cybercrime wing, as otherwise, the experience at the police station can be overwhelming," she said.

Social media observers believe that the Honey Rose-Boby Chemmanur case undeniably carries an element of celebrity attention, amplified by the media coverage it has received but it can't be the same always. "There are countless similar cases today that haven’t received the same prominence as this one. However, tomorrow, if a woman faces a similar situation, she can refer to this case and question why no action is being taken in hers. In many ways, this case has sparked a movement for women and against cyber trolls," said a social media observer and writer who wished to remain anonymous.

Devika also pointed out the hypocrisy of certain online trolls who justify their regressive and offensive remarks by claiming that public platforms or an actor’s attire warrant such comments. "If that’s the argument, then men should also start wearing ‘underskirts’ like women. Many men walk around exposing parts of their bodies, yet that’s rarely criticised. But the moment women wear certain dresses, these trolls seem to have a problem," Devika remarked.