VHP Backs Kerala IAS Officer in WhatsApp Group Controversy

Thiruvananthapuram: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has supported Kerala IAS officer Gopalakrishnan amidst the controversy surrounding the 'Mallu Hindu Officers' WhatsApp group.

The VHP national leaders in Delhi, have raised questions about the criminality of forming a WhatsApp group for Hindus in Kerala. They have accused the Left government in Kerala of attempting to persecute an IAS officer under the guise of creating a group called 'Mallu Hindu Officers.' Gopalakrishnan, the director of the industries department, reportedly established a group named 'Mallu Hindu Officers' and then deleted it shortly after courting a major controversy. He claimed that his phone was hacked, resulting in the creation of 11 WhatsApp groups simultaneously. Alongside this, a 'Muslim Officers' Group' was also formed. The Kerala police and its cyber wing are currently investigating whether Gopalakrishnan's phone was indeed hacked, and his mobile phones have been seized for the investigation.

The WhatsApp had sparked a major controversy in the state.

The group, consisting of Hindu IAS officers, was initiated by industries department director K Gopalakrishnan, IAS, as the admin.

He reported that the hackers who accessed his phone simultaneously created 11 groups, adding contacts from his list and appointing him as the admin.

The IAS officer has confirmed that all the groups have been deleted and a formal complaint has been lodged with the City Police Commissioner. The Cyber Police are also investigating the issue.

Notwithstanding Gopalakrishnan's statement, the government has initiated inquiry into the incident. Industry Minister P Rajeev has assured that the matter would be thoroughly investigated and appropriate measures will be taken. He emphasized that creating divisions on religious grounds is a grave issue.