A 26-year-old software engineer died in a lodge room in Thampanoor, Thiruvananthapuram, on October 9. Through a timed Instagram message, he accused RSS members of sexually assaulting him starting in early childhood.
Lodge staff found Anandu Aji, from Elikkulam in Kottayam district, on Thursday evening. Police opened an unnatural death investigation.
A 15-page account appeared on his Instagram the day he died. Aji detailed trauma beginning at age three or four, connecting years of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder to sexual violence during this period.
“I’m committing suicide not because of any girl, love affair, debt, or anything like that. I’m doing this because of my anxiety and depressive episodes. Also, because of my medicines, I can’t concentrate on my work,” he wrote.
Enrolled in the RSS as a young boy, Aji called his father “a very good person” while holding the organisation responsible for psychological damage. “I’m not angry with anyone, except one person and an organisation. The organisation is RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), which my father made me join. That’s where I’ve suffered lifelong trauma, from the organisation and that person.”
Someone identified as “NM”, an RSS and BJP member who was also a neighbour, was named as the principal abuser. “He constantly abused me, has done a lot of things to my body. I was like a sex tool for him. The sad part is, I only realised that this abuse was the cause of my mental illness when I was diagnosed with OCD. Until then, I believed it hadn’t caused me any problems. He was like a brother and was considered like a relative by my family.”
The account referenced RSS camps. “I have also been sexually abused at RSS camps. I don’t remember their names, but I have been abused at the ITC and OTC camps. I was also subjected to physical abuse. They used to beat me with the batons without any reason.”
A direct warning followed. “Never befriend an RSS member. Not only friend, even if it is your family, your father, brother or son, cut them off your life. They carry so much venom. They are the real abusers.”
According to Aji, others had suffered similarly. “What I’ve described is just what they have done to me. They have been sexually and physically abusing a lot of children. I’m able to openly say this because I left the organisation. I know nobody would believe me as I don’t have any proofs. But my life itself is my proof. I’m doing this as I don’t want another child to go through what I suffered.”
Authorities were urged to help such victims, while parents were asked to teach appropriate boundaries. “No child in the world should go through what I suffered. Parents should ensure it. Children might not be able to open up after an abuse, as they will be scared. Parents should build a connection with the child, so they are able to share everything with you.”
Aji wrote that those close to him had grown hostile, perhaps because of his BJP and RSS criticism, or because he backed his sister’s intercaste relationship. Ammu bore no blame for his decision, he clarified, apologising to his mother, sister and brother-in-law. Savings should be used to clear debts, he requested.
Political reactions followed. On October 13, the Congress questioned why the RSS was not named in the FIR. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said, “Anandu mentioned the name of RSS multiple times in his post, but the name of RSS is not even mentioned in the FIR. What kind of terror is this...”
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote, “In his suicide message Anandu Aji alleged that he was abused again and again by multiple members of the RSS. He clearly stated that he was not the only victim and that rampant sexual abuse is taking place in RSS camps. If true, then this is horrifying.”
K.B. Sreekumar, Saha Prantha Karyavah (South Kerala) of the RSS, called the incident “sad and unfortunate” but termed the accusations “dubious and baseless”. The organisation filed a complaint with Kottayam District Police on Monday, alleging a “deliberate and malicious attempt to implicate” it, and sought a thorough probe.
The Democratic Youth Federation of India and Youth Congress have filed police complaints, though no cases have been registered yet. Aji’s father had also served with the RSS.
