Thiruvananthapuram, 23 June (H.S.):

A complaint has been filed with the Director General of Police (DGP) seeking action against a fake Facebook post allegedly aimed at defaming Kerala Public Works Minister P.K. Basheer.

The complaint was submitted by P.P. Safarulla, president of the Muslim League’s Eranad constituency committee. He alleged that unidentified persons had circulated a fabricated news post using the logo and branding of Malayala Manorama in an attempt to tarnish the minister’s image and mislead the public.

According to the complaint, the post was shared through a Facebook account named “Jafar K.T. Pulikkal” and carried the headline “Infectious Disease Death.” The post also featured the Malayala Manorama logo, the website address “manoramanews.com,” and the date June 21, 2026, giving it the appearance of a genuine news report.

Minister Basheer’s office clarified that the post was completely fake and had no connection with either the minister or the newspaper. It alleged that the creators of the post had deliberately used the newspaper’s identity to spread misinformation and damage the reputation of the minister and the government.

The complaint further stated that the fabricated content contained false claims relating to deaths caused by infectious diseases and had the potential to create unnecessary fear and confusion among the public. It accused those behind the post of attempting to present false information as authentic news in order to discredit the minister.

Safarulla urged the police to register a case under relevant provisions dealing with forgery, defamation, circulation of false information and offences affecting public order. He also requested the Cyberdome and Cyber Crime Cell to trace the individuals responsible for creating and sharing the post.

The complaint sought the immediate removal of the content from social media platforms and stringent legal action against those involved in its circulation.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman