Explained | The ‘kafir screenshot’ case in Kerala

The story so far

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala Police has taken into custody a local leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), a youth wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) in a case related to the creation and circulation of a WhatsApp screenshot with communal overtones in the Vadakara constituency of Kozhikode before Kozhakode.

Jithin Bhaskaran, a member of the Vadakar block committee of DYFI, was arrested on June 16. He was the administrator of the WhatsApp group ‘Vadakara Squad’, a pro-left social media collective. Mr. Bhaskaran was earlier remanded in judicial custody by a first class court in Vadakara.

What is the background of the case?

The screenshot became public domain on 25 April 2024, a day before the general election in the Vadakara constituency. The message, purportedly in the name of PK Mohammed Khasim, district secretary of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), sought votes for United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Shafi Parambila, describing him as a ‘deeni yuvavu’ (pious and religious youth) and asking “whether we should vote for him or a kafir (infidel) woman”.

Senior CPI(M) leader KK Shailaja was Mr Parambil’s rival candidate for the Left Democratic Front (LDF). Doctors Without Borders is the student wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which is part of the UDF. The message was reportedly posted in a WhatsApp group called “Youth League Nedumbramanna”. This episode became known as the ‘kafir screenshot case’.

what happened after that

It was C. Bhaskaran, an election committee functionary for the LDF election campaign, who first lodged a complaint with the local police demanding a detailed investigation into the episode. Although Mr. Khasim claimed that he was not involved in the incident, he handed over his mobile phone to the police and lodged complaints with the District Superintendent of Police (Kozhikode Rural) and also the Vadakara police. Nedumbramanna Youth League branch committee general secretary MT Ismail also filed a police case alleging that there is no such WhatsApp group. Police subsequently registered two cases, one against Mr. Khasim under sections of the Indian Penal Code for promoting enmity between religious groups and another against “unidentified persons”, but citing lesser charges.

What did the survey reveal?

After an investigation, the police later concluded that there was no evidence to prove Mr. Khasim’s involvement in the creation or distribution of the screenshot. They also claimed that it was difficult to find who created the message. Mr. Khasim then approached the Kerala High Court seeking a judicial inquiry into the incident. The court directed him to approach the first class court in Vadakara or the local police. However, claiming that the investigation did not proceed further, Mr. Khasim again approached the Vadakara court, which asked the police to report on the progress of the investigation.

In the report, the police claimed that Ribesh Ramakrishnan, then DYFI leader and administrator of social media group ‘Red Encounter’, was the first to post the screenshot on social media. It was later shared by Wahab, admin of ‘Porali Shaji’ Facebook page, Maneesh, admin of ‘Ambadimukku Saghakkal’ and Amalram who posted it in ‘Red Battalion’ group. Police later charged Meta, Facebook’s parent company, with failing to remove a screenshot from one of its pages. Mr. Khasim again approached the Supreme Court seeking a trial.

However, the police informed the court that although the post was first shared in pro-left cyber groups, it was difficult to trace its source. Investigators also claimed that Meta was not cooperating with them. Although the High Court asked the police to subject the smartphones of the aforementioned pro-left activists to forensic examination, the case did not progress and was closed.

How did the case get a new lease of life?

The case hit the headlines again after the UDF came to power in the state in May. Parakkal Abdulla, IUML leader and newly elected MLA from Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode, who was part of Mr. Parambil’s election team, submitted a request to Home Minister Ramesh Chennithal for a comprehensive probe. The government subsequently formed an eight-member SIT headed by T. Manoharan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kozhikode Rural.

How did the re-investigation go?

The SIT then decided to extend its investigation to WhatsApp groups ‘Kadathanadu Sakhakkal’ and ‘Bavuppara Sakhakkal’ after it reportedly got new leads in the case after questioning the admins of the ‘Vadakara Squad’ group. Mr Ramakrishnan, along with Manish and Amal, two witnesses in the case, reportedly told investigators that the controversial screenshot was received through the group. Mr Bhaskaran is said to have shared it there. It is suspected that he also circulated it to more than 200 people. Mr Bhaskaran’s phone has now been sent for forensic examination.

What is the CPI(M)’s connection with the case?

The UDF leaders alleged that the screenshot could have been taken on the instructions of the CPI(M) leader in the district. Though some of the CPI(M) leaders had earlier shared content on their Facebook pages, they were later removed. However, the police are yet to establish that the screenshot was taken by Mr Bhaskaran. Meanwhile, DYFI leaders claim that the SIT is trying to target their cadre under the guise of investigating the case. Ms Shailaja said the probe could go ahead.

Published – 18 Jun 2026 13:39 IST