In a crackdown against the cyber-harassment of women in public life, Mudigere police have taken a youth to court for allegedly posting obscene, derogatory comments on the Instagram account of Congress MLA Nayana Motamma. The accused, known as Yakshith Raj, who was living in Ramanagara and working in Bengaluru, is remanded to judicial custody.
Persistent Harassment Since October
The case dates back to October 2025, where MLA’s personal assistant Samsuddin lodged a formal complaint at the Mudigere police station. Nayana Motamma has two official Instagram accounts: one for political updates and the other for her personal life, travel, and lifestyle. Her personal account was targeted by the accused through sexual abuse and insults about dress choices. The user was trying publicly to bring the legislator to shame and damage her reputation by perpetuating character assassination, according to the complaint.
“I will not be silenced”: Nayana Motamma Responds
After the arrest, the MLA blasted her outrage on social media at the "anti-woman" mentality that permeates online society. She emphasised the double standards and the moral policing facing many female politicians. “If I wear a sleeveless dress, they label me as a politician who doesn't work. Some even go as far as calling me a ‘prostitute.’ These are people hiding behind profiles without display pictures,” she wrote in a powerful Instagram post. “I am against this misogynistic attitude. One day, I will face them head-on.”
Nayana Motamma, a Chikkamagaluru MLA for the first time, is someone who has been unapologetic about personal freedom, consistently rebelling against the stereotypical expectations of a politician's life as either a "masked" or traditionalist entity.
Police Response and Cyber Safety
Following technical investigations, the police managed to track Yakshith Raj to Bengaluru. Officials said the accused posted the comments on purpose to insult the MLA’s modesty. The arrest also comes in line with a broader crackdown by the Karnataka government on moral policing and internet abuse. The police have called on citizens to report them as well, noting that anonymity on social media does not guarantee immunity from legal action.
