Kochi: The State Human Rights Commission on Saturday ordered a high-level probe into the charges against a police officer based on a complaint that he posted an obscene video on a WhatsApp group. The action was taken based on a complaint filed by Ezhupunna native Varghese against Aroor Sub- Inspector K.G. Pratap Chandran that the latter sent the video clip to the WhatsApp ‘Voice of Ezhupunna’.
“A direction has been handed over to the Alappuzha district police chief to depute a senior officer of the Cyber Cell to probe the charges against the Sub- Inspector. The inquiry report should be submitted within a month. The case will be considered at a sitting to be held at the Alappuzha Government Guest House on October 24,” said P. Mohandas, Judicial Member, State Human Rights Commission. The ‘Voice of Ezhupunna’ is a WhatsApp group formed by social activists and local residents fighting the drug mafia in the region. It has nearly 150 members, including women and children.
According to the complaint, the obscene video clip was sent to the group on September 2. Meanwhile, the officer concerned has reportedly given an explanation to his superior officers that the video clip was “accidentally forwarded” while examining a WhatsApp message from his mobile. However, a section wants to take action (punishment transfer) against the police officer, who is known to have taken tough action against the drug mafia by lodging over 500 cases in the last one year, including seizure of LSD stamp, hashish oil and ganja among others.
