Sexual assault survivor Bhavana speaks out about compromising leaked videos

Sexual assault survivor Bhavana has spoken out again, addressing the renewed scrutiny she is facing following the circulation of nude videos allegedly linked to her. Her latest statement comes shortly after she publicly expressed her disappointment over the verdict in the long-running case related to her assault.

In a message written in Malayalam, Bhavana addressed the questions, speculation and judgment that have resurfaced years after the crime. She spoke candidly about the decision she made at the time of the assault — to immediately approach the police, clearly state her intent to file a case, and pursue legal action. According to Bhavana, that choice, which should have been seen as an assertion of her rights, is now being used to question her actions and character once again.

Her statement underscores a difficult reality faced by many survivors: whether they remain silent or seek justice, their choices are often scrutinised and weaponised against them. Bhavana pointed out that had she stayed quiet, she might have been blamed later for not reporting the crime. Yet by speaking up, she continues to face public judgment long after the legal process has unfolded.

Crime and responsibility

Bhavana also referred to the convicted perpetrator, who was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment, stating that responsibility for recording any explicit material lies with the person who committed the crime. Her remarks draw attention to a key issue often lost in public discourse — that the act of recording, possessing or circulating intimate images without consent is itself a serious offence, and not something for which a survivor should ever be held accountable.

The renewed circulation of such material, she said, has reopened wounds that never fully healed. Instead of closure, she finds herself confronting another cycle of speculation, commentary and misinformation, much of it unfolding on digital platforms where empathy is often absent.

Bhavana’s statement also directly addressed those spreading rumours and engaging in what she described as perverse discussions. She called out the lack of understanding and sensitivity shown by people who, she noted, have never had to experience such trauma themselves or within their families. Her words served as a stark reminder of the privilege that allows some to consume and debate another person’s pain without consequence.

While Bhavana did not seek sympathy, her message highlighted the long-term psychological toll of sexual violence and the aftermath that survivors are forced to navigate — even years later. Legal judgments, she implied, do not automatically end the trauma, especially when society continues to reopen it through careless discourse and victim-blaming.

By choosing to speak again, Bhavana has once more placed the focus where it belongs: on accountability, consent and the treatment of survivors in the public sphere. Her statement is not just a response to current events, but a broader commentary on how survivors are repeatedly asked to explain, justify and defend themselves — long after the crime has already taken so much from them.