Kochi
The Kerala High Court has ordered the registration of an FIR against retired Director General of Police (DGP) Siby Mathews for allegedly revealing the identity of a rape victim in his book, Nirbhayam. The court noted that while the victim’s name wasn’t explicitly mentioned, details about her parents, their residence, and her school were disclosed, violating Section 228A of the IPC.
This decision follows a petition by K.K. Joshua, who had previously filed a complaint with local police and the district police chief, without satisfactory action. Unable to get a response, Joshua approached the High Court seeking a directive for the police to register an FIR.
The court stated, the reference to the victim as ‘peedippikkapetta penkutti’ (molested girl) with specific personal details unmistakably identifies her as the rape victim in the book. It clarified that when a grievance is not addressed by the police, the complainant can either seek a magistrate’s investigation under Section 156(3) CrPC or request an enquiry under Section 202 CrPC. The court emphasized that its authority to order an investigation remains intact, especially in cases involving high-profile individuals like a former DGP.
The court directed the police to register the FIR and conduct a comprehensive investigation as per the Lalitha Kumari judgment. Siby Mathews, who had retired voluntarily, was later appointed as the chief information officer.
