Case registered against ACP N Vinayakumaran Nair for misbehaviour

KOLLAM: The  Kollam police has registered a case against the ACP who misbehaved with an anchor at the national cyber security meet, Cocon 2016, held here last week. N. Vinayakumaran Nair, assistant commissioner with the hi-tech cell, who faced departmental action on the issue, was booked after DGP Loknath Behra issued an order based on the inquiry report filed by Rural SP Ajeetha Beegum. Vinayakumaran Nair has been charged with non-bailable sections of IPC 354 a(1) for making sexually- coloured remarks to the woman and 354 d(2) for repeated attempts to contact her to foster personal interaction despite a clear indication of disinterest by her.

The incident took place on the second day of the Cocon 2016 meet held on August 20. Vinayakumaran Nair, who was present at the venue at Raviz hotel, allegedly misbehaved with the  anchor,  a college student in Kollam. He also allegedly touched her hand saying  ‘silly’ comments. He   called the anchor  unnecessarily  during the night after collecting her mobile number during the event. The officer was expelled from the venue after the anchor brought the issue to the notice of the organisers.

Ms Ajeetha Beegum  told DC,  “I submitted the inquiry report to the DGP, based on which a case was registered against the officer. The special branch ACP also submitted a report on the issue. We have collected solid evidence  against the officer,  including video clippings, call details and WhatsApp messages,” she said.    Vinayakumaran Nair was transferred to the Armed Reserve camp in Thiruvananthapuram based on a preliminary report submitted to Mr Loknath Behra by Range IG Manoj Abraham on Monday.

Vigilance probe into Cocon 2016

The VACB is inquiring into the corruption and financial irregularities in conducting Cocon 2016 here last week based on an order by Vigilance director Jacob Thomas. The 9th edition of the two-day international cyber security conference, Cocon 2016, was organised by the Kerala Police with the support of POLCYB (society for policing of cyber space) and ISRA (Information Security Research Association).

Vigilance officials have collected evidence from the hotel where the programme was conducted. The team will focus  on fund utilisation at the event which was attended by  several international delegates and experts in cyber security. It was also alleged that on the days of the event, a beer parlour that had  been shut down by the excise department was open.  The VACB team will inquire into this also.