You Tube assault row: Kerala police to register non-bailable offence against Vijay P Nair

The Kerala Hi-tech crime inquiry cell has instructed the police to register non-bailable offence cases against Youtuber Vijay P Nair for the sexually explicit comments made on his channel against women.

The police have been directed to charge Nair with offences under sections 67, 67 (A) of the IT Act which could result in at least five years of imprisonment.

Initially the police only charged him with section 354A (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty).The Hi-tech cell SP ES Bijumon instructed the police based on the orders of State Police Chief Loknath Behera.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had made it clear that strict action will be taken against perpetrators who use social media platform to hurl verbal abuses against women. Health Minister KK Shailaja also said that stringent action will be taken against the offenders.

Earlier, the police had registered weak and bailable charges against Vijay P Nair and non-bailable offences against Bhagyalakshmii and other two activists, which led to widespread criticism.

The police have also begun a probe into the You Tuber’s doctorate degree secured from a university not recognised by UGC.

The police had earlier charged dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi, activist Diya Sana and Sreelakshmi Arackal Vijay with non-bailable offences, after they accused Vijay of making sleazy remarks against women on social media. They are also charged with robbery as they seized Nair’s laptop and hard disk for producing it as proof before the police.

The incident went viral on social media after Diya Sana, who rose to fame through the reality show Bigg Boss, shot the incident on her mobile phone and posted it live on Facebook that took place in a lodge room where Vijay P Nair was staying.

They confronted Nair for putting out a derogatory video on feminists is Kerala. The video went on to target a number of women, starting with veteran poet and activist Sugathakumari, who is 86 years old now. In the video, he said highly abusive and defamatory things about many prominent women.

Activist Sreelakshmi Arackal had earlier approached the Kerala Women’s Commission, the Cyber Cell, as well as the Social Justice Department, seeking action against him. However, no action has been taken by any of the officials so far.