Kerala takes back snoopgate' case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has decided to withdraw a case against a former police official and some journalists regarding the leaking of a police intelligence report and publishing misleading report of the police snooping on the members of Muslim community. Top government sources said that the decision was taken a few months back considering the request of some of the accused. The government was under pressure from various quarters to withdraw the case, it is learnt.

The Crime Branch which probed the case had even recommended a probe by the National Investigation Agency considering the links of some fundamental outfits. The prime accused in the case, Biju Salim, was a sub-inspector at police hi-tech cell. He allegedly leaked out the intelligence communication seeking the details of 268 e-mail addresses. He was later  terminated from service.  The Crime Branch filed a chargesheet against eight persons in the case last year with Biju Salim as the first accused.  

The other  accused were former homoeo medical officer Dr. V.S Dastagir, advocate Shanavaz, journalist Viju V. Nair, Madhyaman editor O. Abdu Rahman, Madhyamam weekly editor P.K. Parakkadavu, journalists M.P. Basheer and Manu Bharath. The incident pertained to the case that took place in 2012. The state special branch (intelligence wing) sent a letter to the hi-tech cell seeking the details of the users of 268 e-mail addresses as part of an internal probe.

Biju Salim allegedly leaked it out  along with  a misleading information that the police were  trying to snoop on e-mails on 268 persons, majority of them Muslims. The initial probe by the Crime Branch found the links of some of the accused with former leaders of a banned fundamental outfit. Subsequently, a probe by the NIA was suggested. But the NIA declined to take it over.