Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Three Booked Over Defamatory Content Targeting Journalist Jijo John Puthezhath
Police in Kottayam have registered a case against three people.
The case concerns online material allegedly insulting journalist Jijo John Puthezhath after his death.
Puthezhath worked as a special correspondent for Malayalam Manorama.
He recently died of cardiac arrest in Kochi.
Police say an unknown person made a vulgar phone call to the newspaper’s Kottayam office on July 9.
A recording of the call was allegedly posted online on September 10.
The police report also alleges that comments about Puthezhath and his family were posted afterward.
The accused face charges involving obscene language, defamation and causing a nuisance.
Officials named in the report had condemned the social-media targeting.
Kottayam Cyber Police registered a case against three people over allegedly defamatory online content targeting deceased journalist Jijo John Puthezhath.
Puthezhath was a special correspondent for Malayalam Manorama and recently died of cardiac arrest in Kochi.
An unidentified caller allegedly used vulgar language against Puthezhath during a call to Malayalam Manorama’s Kottayam office on July 9.
The recorded conversation was allegedly posted on September 10 on the Facebook page ‘SV Vibes’, managed by SV Arun Kumar.
Police invoked Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 296(b) and 356(2), and section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act.
- Who
- Kottayam Cyber Police registered a case against three people; the alleged target was deceased journalist Jijo John Puthezhath and his family.
- What
- A case was registered over allegedly abusive and defamatory content circulated online.
- When
- The alleged phone call occurred on July 9, the recording was posted on September 10, and the case was registered on Saturday before the report dated September 13.
- Where
- The alleged call was made to Malayalam Manorama’s Kottayam head office, while the case was registered by Kottayam Cyber Police in Kerala.
- Why
- Police acted after receiving a complaint alleging abusive language and online circulation of defamatory content targeting Puthezhath.
- Accused
- Three people
- Target
- Jijo John Puthezhath, a deceased Malayalam Manorama special correspondent
- Alleged phone call
- An unidentified caller allegedly used vulgar language on July 9
- Alleged online post
- A recording was allegedly posted on September 10 on the Facebook page ‘SV Vibes’
- Facebook profiles named in the FIR
- ‘Ashraf Tharang’ and ‘Santhosh Kumar’
- Charges
- BNS sections 296(b) and 356(2), and Kerala Police Act section 120(o)
- Police unit
- Kottayam Cyber Police
