More than ten days after activist Rehana Fathima stirred controversy by attempting enter the Sabarimala Temple, she moved the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail. This after a case was registered against her by the Pathanamthitta police under section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the IPC. The case was registered following a complaint filed by the Sabarimala Samrakshana Samithi alleging that her social media posts has hurt their religious sentiments.
According to a report by Times of India (TOI), Rehana stated in the plea that none of the requirements that are to be satisfied for registering a case under Section 295A have been satisfied and that she has nothing to do with the alleged crime.
In her plea, she states that she had expressed her intent to go to Sabarimala on Facebook and that on October 18, she had informed the Pathanamthitta district collector and IG Manoj Abraham that she wants to visit the temple after which she was assured protection.
Rehana Fathima hit headlines as she was one of the few women who tried to enter the Sabarimala sanctum to offer her prayers to the deity. Rehana was given special protection by policemen who escorted her till Nadapanthal, 500 metres away from the shrine. She was dressed like Ayyappa, in black clothes, carrying the irumudikettu (the two-layered sacred bundle without which devotees cannot enter the temple). Her partner, Manoj Sreedhar, said that she had observed a 21-day fast as per the customs and practices.
However, due to massive protests by devotees and priests and threats from the thantri to shut down the temple if women enter, she had to return without praying.
Rehana’s house in Ernakulam was later vandalised as news spread that she attempted to enter the temple.