With the Kerala Assembly elections approaching, the Congress has accused Kairali News TV, backed by the CPI-M, of sharing a digitally altered image of party General Secretary K.C. Venugopal. The image allegedly implied Venugopal was accepting money, with a green circle added to reinforce this false narrative. The Congress has lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission, citing a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and seeking urgent action.
The Congress has condemned the incident as a deliberate effort to tarnish Venugopal’s reputation before the elections. They argue that such actions undermine the electoral process and mislead voters. Seeking the immediate removal of the manipulated image from social media platforms, Congress has called for a thorough investigation and strict measures against those responsible.
In response to the controversy, Congress state Vice President A.A. Shukoor has taken legal action by approaching the Alappuzha North police. The complaint invokes various charges, including forgery and criminal conspiracy, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act. Shukoor highlighted a pattern of misinformation aimed at discrediting opposition leaders and disrupting the democratic process.
As campaigning intensifies in the run-up to the polls on April 9, the Congress vows to address the issue both legally and politically. They emphasize the importance of upholding integrity in the electoral process and ensuring fair campaigning practices.
