Fake Vijayan mail lands two in jail

The next time you get a mail accusing somebody of something, double check facts before you click the forward button. Kerala Police have arrested KR Manoj of Kayamkulam near Alappuzha and Karthik of Ettumanoor near Kottayam for forwarding a mail that featured a palatial house allegedly belonging to CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

Though the duo only forwarded the mail, like many of us do, they have been accused of “hacking” under section 66(1) of the IT Act because they added a “damaging” caption to it. The section carries imprisonment up to three years or a fine up to Rs2 lakh or both for “causing wrongful loss or damage to the public or any person” by “altering information…in a computer resource”.

Vijayan complained to the cyber cell last week about the mail which had been doing the rounds for a month. It had the subject line ‘The tiny hut of the proletarian leader’ and photos of a mini palace. Police say the house belongs to an NRI in Thrissur and the photos were taken on October 31.

The mail comes at a time when the CPI(M) is discussing a rectification campaign suggested by its central committee. Many senior leaders are in the dock for their lavish lifestyles. Tech-savvy comrades and fellow travellers have been countering the propaganda with a mail that shows pictures of the house in question, which is a favourite
location for TV soap crews.