Kochi Police Book 18 Accounts for Sharing Minor's Identity in Crash Case

The Kochi City Cyber police have booked 18 social media handles for revealing the identity of a 17-year-old accused in a luxury car crash case. Online channels and social media influencers are among those facing action.

Legal Action

The case follows a direct order from the Ernakulam Additional District and Sessions Court. The court objected to social media posts sharing the teenager's identity and directed cyber police to take down these accounts and posts, as well as submit an action report.

Charges

Police registered the case under Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015, which bans revealing a child's identity in media or public communications. This offence carries up to six months in prison and a fine of up to two lakh rupees. Authorities also invoked Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation due to the nature of certain posts.

The Incident

The 17-year-old is accused of driving a luxury car that hit a scooter in the early hours of October 25 near Cheranalloor. The crash killed 55-year-old wayside eatery owner Jayabalakrishnan.

Context

Indian law strictly protects the privacy and identity of minors involved in legal proceedings to prevent social stigma and help them rehabilitate. Courts and law enforcement routinely crack down on online platforms that bypass these legal restrictions.