SIT to probe Shine’s complaint

A special investigation team (SIT) formed by the Ernakulam Rural police will investigate a case registered over a complaint filed by Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader K. J. Shine, who has alleged an online defamatory campaign against her.

The 12-member team will be headed by Munambam DySP S. Jayakrishnan. The SIT will provide assistance to the Ernakulam Rural Cyber Police, which has registered the case. The police have recorded the statement of the complainant. The investigation team will be sending the alleged offensive contents posted online against the complainant to Facebook to trace their origins, police sources said.

Meanwhile, Vypeen MLA K.N. Unnikrishnan appeared before the DySP and gave his statement. Mr. Unnikrishnan too has filed a complaint about defamatory reports against him connected to the issue. Three other CPI(M) MLAs in Ernakulam district, K.J. Maxy, Antony John, and P.V. Sreenijin, have also filed similar complaints, the police said.

The FIR registered over Ms. Shine’s complaint has named C.K. Gopalakrishnan, a Congress leader in North Paravoor, and political commentator K. M. Shahjahan as accused.