In a troubling incident, K. Gopalakrishnan, an IAS officer and the director of industries and commerce in Kerala, has filed a police complaint alleging that his mobile phone was hacked by unidentified cyber criminals. According to Gopalakrishnan, the hackers created religious WhatsApp groups without his consent, making him the admin of these groups, including “Mallu Hindu Officers” and “Mallu Muslim Officers.”
The creation of the Mallu Hindu Officers group took place on October 30, during which several senior officers were added. Upon being alerted by his colleagues about the impropriety of such a group, Gopalakrishnan swiftly deleted it. He later informed members that his phone had been compromised and that a total of 11 unauthorized groups had been created.
The situation escalated when a Mallu Muslim Officers group was formed, again placing Gopalakrishnan as the admin. He similarly deleted this group after fellow officers raised concerns.
Thiruvananthapuram Police Commissioner Sparjan Kumar has stated that the police are currently seeking details from WhatsApp regarding the groups’ creation. Meanwhile, Kerala’s Industries Minister P. Rajeeve announced that the state government would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. He emphasized that the government would examine the formation of a group specifically for Hindu IAS officers, noting the importance of adhering to the general code of conduct for IAS officers governed by the Public Administration department.
Gopalakrishnan’s complaint highlights the seriousness of unauthorized access to personal devices and the potential implications of creating religiously charged groups among government officials. The government’s inquiry aims to address the concerns raised by this incident and ensure that similar breaches do not occur in the future.
Sources By Agencies
