Cyber police book 18 for allegedly revealing identity of minor accused in Cheranalloor car crash case

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Forensic officials collect evidence from the car involved in a fatal accident at Cheranalloor in Kochi. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat

The Kochi City Cyber police have registered a case against 18 social media handles for allegedly revealing the identity of a 17-year-old accused in the Cheranalloor luxury car crash case. The police registered the case following a directive from the Ernakulam Additional District and Sessions Court which had recently taken exception to the continued circulation of social media posts that revealed the teenager’s identity.

The Kochi City Cyber police have registered a case against 18 social media handles for allegedly revealing the identity of a 17-year-old accused in the Cheranalloor luxury car crash case.

The police registered the case following a directive from the Ernakulam Additional District and Sessions Court which had recently taken exception to the continued circulation of social media posts that revealed the teenager’s identity.

Online channels and social media influencers are among those booked, according to the police.

The case has been registered against Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which strictly prohibits the disclosure of a child’s identity in any media or public communication, according to the police. The charge, if proven, can attract imprisonment up to six months and a fine up to ₹2 lakh. “Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) which deals with the offence of criminal intimidation has also been invoked considering the nature of some of the social media posts,” a police officer said.

The court had recently directed the cyber police to take down every social media account and post that is revealing the identity of the child in conflict with law. The court proceeded to order the police to submit a report on the action taken against such posts.

The accused teenager has been booked for allegedly causing the accident in which Jayabalakrishnan, a 55-year-old wayside eatery owner, was killed near Cheranalloor in the early hours of October 25. Jayabalakrishnan was killed after the luxury car, allegedly driven by the minor, rammed the scooter he was riding.

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