Actress assault case convict Martin booked for circulating video linked to survivor; Crime Branch takes over probe

The investigation into the circulation of a video related to the actress assault case has been transferred to the Thrissur District Crime Branch. An FIR has been registered at the Cyber Police Station under Sections 67, 72, and 75 of the IT Act. The case, which was initially registered by the Thrissur City Cyber Police against Martin Antony, the second accused convicted in the actress assault case, will now be probed by the District Crime Branch. 

Thrissur City Police Commissioner Nakul R Deshmukh said an investigation will be conducted to determine whether there was a conspiracy behind the video released in the name of Martin as part of a smear campaign against the survivor in the actress assault case. Martin will be questioned in jail, and an arrest will be recorded in the case if required. Information has been collected from 127 social media accounts. The Commissioner also directed that defamatory content circulating on social media be removed. He added that a special investigation team has been constituted to probe the case.

The case pertains to the disclosure of the survivor’s identity and defamation through social media. Following the circulation of the video by Martin, the survivor filed a complaint with the Thrissur Range DIG, alleging that she was facing severe cyber attacks and demanding the removal of the video.

As part of the complaint, the survivor submitted 16 links of the circulated video. Based on these, police have issued removal notices to social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Notices have also been sent to 27 individuals who circulated the video, directing them to take down the content. The investigation team has indicated that further cases may be registered against additional individuals in the coming days.

Martin Antony, along with five others—Pulsar Suni, Manikandan B, Vijeesh V P, Saleem H, and Pradeep—were previously convicted and sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in the actress assault case. In its December 8 order, the trial court acquitted actor Dileep alias P Gopalakrishnan, Charley Thomas, Sanilkumar alias Mesthiri Sanil, and Sarath G Nair.