Kannur, 26 July (H.S.):The Kannur Rural Cyber Crime Police have registered a criminal case against eight media organisations and several online platforms following a complaint by senior CPI(M) leader and former Kerala Health Minister P.K. Sreemathi, who alleged that false reports circulated online had seriously damaged her reputation.

Sreemathi, 76, a member of the CPI(M) Central Committee, approached the police after reports published between July 10 and July 18 claimed that she had been unlawfully receiving a family pension by portraying herself as the widow of a deceased former MLA named P.R. Krishnan. She categorically denied the allegation, stating that the pension recipient was another woman, P.K. Sreemathy, the wife of former Kunnamkulam MLA P.R. Krishnan, and not herself.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the complaint names Janam TV, Janmabhoomi, Karma News, Bharat Live, Kannur-based evening daily Sudinam and news aggregator Dailyhunt among the accused. The complaint also includes YouTube channels and other online platforms that allegedly amplified or shared the disputed reports.

In her complaint, Sreemathi said the misleading reports and related online links were circulated widely as part of a coordinated campaign that tarnished her public image and lowered her dignity. She alleged that the false content created confusion among the public and caused significant damage to her personal and political reputation.

Police said the FIR states that Sudinam carried the report on July 18, while several other platforms, including Janam TV and Janmabhoomi, published or circulated similar content in the days preceding it.

The case has been registered under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. The police have begun an investigation to determine the origin of the reports, the role of each accused platform and whether the alleged misinformation was deliberately disseminated.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman