Morphing Case: POCSO Charges Filed Against Accused, Including KSU Leader

Kochi: Sanish, who was arrested in the Thrikkakara morphing case, made financial gains by using and selling morphed photographs, police said. Sanish had obtained images shared by the first accused, Srihari, in a group and circulated them further. The investigation also found that he sold the images through a Telegram group called ‘Mallu Premium’.

Sanish charged Rs 250 to add members to the group. The investigation team also found that Sanish and Srihari did not know each other personally. The group allegedly circulated the images on the belief that they could not be caught because the transactions and exchanges were carried out through Telegram.

Sanish allegedly made money by sending pornographic videos shared by Srihari to another promotional group. He had created a Telegram group called ‘Mallu Premium’, which had 12 members. People were added to the group after paying Rs 250.

Details of the racket emerged after KSU leader Srihari was arrested. A five-member group, including Srihari, allegedly morphed images and videos of teachers and female students and created pornographic videos. Sanish was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after child pornography was found. Kochi City Police Commissioner said that POCSO charges would also be imposed against Srihari.

Sanish allegedly handled the distribution of pornographic videos created by his associates to groups of interested buyers and managed financial transactions. He was also an administrator of some groups and allegedly had a role in producing the pornographic videos. Several images, videos and chats had been deleted from his phone, while some of them have been recovered.

Srihari, who was taken into police custody for three days, is being questioned in detail. There are also allegations of attempts to contain the case involving the KSU leader. A proper investigation could reveal details of a racket operating across the state and bring its political connections to light.

Youth Congress workers at Bharata Mata College had allegedly attempted to protect a student who faced similar allegations.

Police arrested Sanish, 20, a native of Kurathikad in Alappuzha and a BCom student at Mavelikara IHRD College, on Monday in connection with the case.