The case was registered by the Alappuzha Cyber Police following a complaint by advocate Johnson Abraham on Sunday night.
Police said the posts were made when discussions were underway about the candidate for the chief minister’s post after the UDF won the state assembly election. The five have been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Kerala Police Act for circulating false information with intent to create or promote enmity, wantonly or maliciously giving illegal provocation with the intent or knowledge that it would cause a riot, and causing nuisance. The accused persons allegedly published derogatory and objectionable posts targeting Venugopal on various dates between May 11 and July 19, with the alleged intention of creating hatred and provoking a breach of public peace, according to police.
Venugopal’s name was also among those being discussed for the post, and the accused allegedly posted on social media opposing his candidature, police said. Police said details of the accused and their posts have been collected, and they would be interrogated soon.
