Thiruvananthapuram: The sensational case on an email troll of a palatial house claimed to be of CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan is among the 50 odd cases being dropped by the cyber police on the backdrop of the Supreme Court scrapping Sections 66-A of IT Act and 118-D of Kerala Police Act.
The police also decided not to register cases in new complaints of online defamation but advise petitioners to approach court if they insist on registering a case. After a review of these cases, it was decided to file 'further action dropped' reports in the respective courts soon.
Some cases where certain other sections were also framed in the first-information-report, would proceed under those charges.
"Though we examined the scope of continuing the cases registered under 66-A or 118-D by invoking any other charges, there was no scope and hence decided to drop all the cases initiated under these sections alone," ADGP (crimes) S. Ananthakrishnan said.
Sources in the cyber police station said the cases being discharged included 'defamatory campaigns' against politicians like finance minister K. M. Mani and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Though the option of invoking Section 500 of Indian Penal Code that deals with defamation is still available, it is a non-cognizable, and hence police could not initiate a case.
Similarly, IPC 294 that deals with punishment for obscene acts or words in public was also considered. But that section was also non-cognizable.Meanwhile, those turning up with complaints of defamation on electronic media are advised to approach the court.
"The only option for us now is to hold an enquiry and close the case, unless any cognizable offences are involved," said the cyber police official.
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