Explained | The ‘kafir screenshot’ case in Kerala

The story so far

A special investigation team (SIT) of the Kerala police has sought the custody of a local leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth organization of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). [CPI(M)] In a case related to the creation and distribution of a WhatsApp screenshot with communal overtones in Vadakara constituency in Kozhikode ahead of the Lok Sabha polls on April 26, 2024.

Jithin Bhaskaran, member of DYFI’s Vadakara block committee, was arrested on June 16. He was the administrator of WhatsApp group ‘Vadakara Squad’, a pro-left social media collective. Mr. Bhaskaran is currently remanded in judicial custody.

What is the background of the case?

The screenshot became public on the eve of general elections in Vadakara constituency. The message, purportedly in the name of Muslim Students Federation (MSF) district secretary PK Mohammed Khasim, asks to vote for United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Shafi Parambil, describing him as ‘deeni mavivu’ (pious and pious youth) and asking: “Should we vote for him or vote for a kafir (infidel) woman?” was asked.

Senior CPI(M) leader KK Shailaja was Mr. Parambil’s rival candidate in the Left Democratic Front (LDF). MSF is the student wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which is part of the UDF. It was reported that the message was published in the WhatsApp group titled ‘Youth Union Nedumbramanna’. The episode became known as ‘the heretic screenshot case’.

What happened next?

It was LDF election campaign committee officer C. Bhaskaran who first filed a complaint with the local police seeking a detailed investigation into the incident. While claiming that he had no role in the incident, Mr. Khasim handed over his mobile phone to the police and also lodged a complaint with the District Police Chief (Kozhikode Rural) and Vadakara police. MT Ismail, general secretary of Nedumbramanna Youth Union branch committee, also filed a lawsuit against the police, claiming that there was no such WhatsApp group. The police subsequently registered two cases; these were two cases, one against Mr. Khasim under sections of the Indian Penal Code promoting hostility on religious grounds and the other against “unidentified persons” but on minor charges.

What did the investigation reveal?

Following a subsequent investigation, police concluded that there was no evidence to prove Mr Khasim had created or distributed the screenshot. They also claimed that it was difficult to find out who created the message. Mr. Khasim then approached the Kerala High Court seeking a court-monitored investigation into the incident. The court directed him to approach the First Class Magistrate’s Court in Vadakara or the local police. However, claiming that there was no follow-up in the investigation, Mr. Khasim approached the Vadakara court again and asked the police to submit a progress report on the investigation.

In the report, police claimed that Ribesh Ramakrishnan, the then DYFI leader and admin of social media group ‘Red Encounter’, was the first person to post the screenshot on social media. It was later shared by Wahab, the admin of the ‘Porali Shaji’ Facebook page, Maneesh, the admin of the ‘Ambadimukku Saghakkal’ page, and Amalram, who posted it in the ‘Red Battalion’ group. Police later sued Meta, Facebook’s parent company, for allegedly failing to remove a screenshot from one of its pages. Mr Khasim again approached the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored investigation.

However, police told the court that although the post was first shared on pro-Left cyber groups, it was difficult to trace its source. Investigators also alleged that Meta did not cooperate with them. Although the Supreme Court requested the police to forensically examine the smartphones of the above-mentioned pro-Left activists, no progress was made in the case and the case was closed.

How did the case gain new life?

The case hit headlines again after the UDF came to power in the state in May. IUML leader and newly elected MLA from Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode, Parakkal Abdulla, who was part of Mr. Parambil’s campaign team, appealed to Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, demanding a thorough investigation. The government later formed the eight-member SIT headed by Kozhikode Rural Deputy Superintendent of Police T. Manoharan.

How did the reinvestigation proceed?

The SIT later decided to expand the investigation to WhatsApp groups ‘Kadathanadu Sakhakkal’ and ‘Bavuppara Sakhakkal’ after it reportedly obtained fresh leads in the case following questioning of the administrators of the ‘Vadakara Squad’ group. Mr. Ramakrishnan, along with Manish and Amal, two witnesses in the case, reportedly told investigators that the disputed screenshot was received through this group. Mr. Bhaskaran reportedly shared this there. He is also suspected of distributing it among more than 200 people. Mr. Bhaskaran’s phone has now been sent for forensic examination.

What is CPI(M)’s connection with the case?

UDF leaders claimed that the screenshot might have been created on the instructions of a senior CPI(M) leader in the district. Although some of the CPI(M) leaders had earlier shared this content on their Facebook pages, these were later removed. However, the police are yet to establish that Mr Bhaskaran created the screenshot. Meanwhile, DYFI leaders allege that the SIT is trying to target their cadre under the guise of investigating the case. Ms Shailaja said the investigation could continue.

It was published – 18 June 2026 13:39 IST