Sender of Vijayan's 'mansion' e-mail in Qatar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA: Kerala police's cyber cell has found out that an expatriate working in Qatar was the original sender of an e-mail displaying a mansion allegedly owned by Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, officials said Monday.

Inspector General of Police Tomin J. Thachenkery, who heads the cyber cell, told media persons here they had contacted the man, who hails from Pathanamthitta and works in Qatar, and he had admitted to sending the e-mail. The mansion shown in the e-mail is in Trissur and in fact belongs to non-resident Indian businessman Pramosh, who is based in Saudi Arabia.

Vijayan had last week written to the state police chief, complaining he was being defamed through this mail, being circulated throughout the state. His complaint had been forwarded to the cyber cell which began a probe. Two people had been arrested Sunday.

K.R. Manoj, who is from Kayamkulam and works in Africa as a welding technician, and Karthik, from Kottayam, who is doing a chartered accountancy course were arrested under section 66 A (punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. This section was included when the act was amended in October 2008.

Manoj had made additions to the mail, which he received from Dinesh Nair, who is based in Dubai, and forwarded it to several mailing groups. Karthik also made additions in the mail and forwarded it to several people.

Asked if the police will bring the man working in Qatar back here, Thachenkery said that they were in no hurry.

"This tracking down by the cyber cell of the Kerala police is a commendable achievement and we wish to bring to the knowledge of the public that internet should not be misused and if done, those who do it would be apprehended," he added.

Incidentally, the mansion's owner is also the producer of a TV serial which is being aired by a channel here. Parts of the serial were shot in the mansion.

©IANS