Case registered over cyberattack against Kerala HC judge Devan Ramachandran for directive on illegal boards

Kochi Cybercrime police register case over cyberattack on Kerala High Court judge for removing unauthorized flags and boards.

The Kochi Cybercrime police have registered a case based on a complaint of cyberattack against Kerala High Court judge Devan Ramachandran reportedly over his judgment directing the secretaries of the local self-government institutions to ensure the removal of unauthorised flags and boards erected on public places.

The case was registered on Friday (December 20, 2024) based on the petition lodged by High Court lawyer and public activist Kulathoor Jaisingh. The police have invoked the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 356(2) (defamation) and the Kerala Police Act Section 120(o) (causing, through any means of communication, a nuisance of himself to any person by repeated or undesirable or anonymous call, letter, writing, message, e-mail or through a messenger).

According to the first information report, the unidentified accused had made defamatory posts on Facebook with the intent to cause defamation and spark riots against judges in connection with Justice Ramachandran’s verdict.

A team led by the Kochi City Assistant Commissioner M.K. Murali is investigating the case. Mr. Jaisingh had petitioned the State Police Chief and the Kochi Cybercrime Police. “Attempt to defame a judge for passing a judgment after considering a petition before the court fairly amounted to a serious offence,” he said in a statement.

He said that the petition was part of his legal fight against “cyberwarriors out to besmirch the reputation of the justice delivery system and its judgments.”

A High Court Bench of Justice Ramachandran had earlier this month directed the secretaries of local self-government institutions to ensure that all unauthorised flags and boards erected on public places and streets were removed within 10 days. The court made it clear that the secretaries would be made personally responsible for not removing the boards and flags, and the court would be compelled to collect fines from them.

It observed that it was the role of the police to identify those who had erected illegal boards in public places. If they did not do it, it was time to take action against police officers.