Ragini MMS: Time to rid the cyber scum

M. Gautham Machaiah

About a year ago, Ragini Dwivedi, a leading actress of the Kannada film industry faced acute embarrassment when she suffered a wardrobe malfunction at an event in Dubai.  Now, the incident has come to haunt her again with unedited version of the video clip reaching the mobile phones of members of the film fraternity and the media.

The clips appear to be strategically leaked at a time when Ragini’s career graph is witnessing a steady upswing with several offers in her kitty.  Thus, it does not seem to be a simple case of mischief mongering. Predictably, the video has gone viral within a few minutes of it being leaked, a sad commentary on how we human being revel in the suffering of others.

Unfortunately, the self-appointed conscience keepers of the society, the women’s commission and the police have maintained a collective silence. Considering that the honour of a woman is involved, this was a fit case for the law enforcing authorities to take up and investigate the matter suo moto.

The incident also exposes how both public and private personalities can be defamed with impunity through the digital media. The Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression is not an unfettered right. It does not give one the liberty to mindlessly damage the reputation of others. Today, the social media has emerged as the strongest voice of public sentiment, and unless we learn to use this new found freedom with responsibility, we are bound to lose it sooner than later.

This is a fit case for the police to send a strong message that those who misuse digital platforms to denigrate and malign others, will be dealt with a heavy hand.  

It does not take a Sherlock Holmes to crack the case. Ragini has indicated that the clip could have been leaked by the organisers themselves as the video is of high quality. This was a private performance to which only the organisers had the video rights. Now that the source of the video is more or less clear, half the work is done. The next step is to apprehend all those involved.

Ragini on her part should carry her fight for justice to the logical end and not take the incident in her stride. As a popular actress with the right resources, she has the ability to reach to the bottom of the filth pit.  Instead of projecting herself as a victim, Ragini should become a voice to thousands of less fortunate women who have been similarly violated and have suffered in silence because they do not have the wherewithal to stand up against their aggressors.

It might not be possible to entirely get rid of the cyber scum, but let us begin somewhere.