The Kerala High Court extended the order restraining coercive action against former Director General of Police, and BJP Councillor, R. Sreelekha, in connection with her alleged statements disclosing the identity of survivors in three cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

Ms. Sreelekha had allegedly divulged details that could identify minor rape survivors from the Kiliroor and Kaviyoor sexual assault cases through her YouTube Channel. The Museum Police Station, Thiruvananthapuram, had booked her under the provisions of the POCSO Act, which prohibits the printing or publishing of any matter that reveals the identity of victims of sexual offences.

Justice Jobin Sebastian was considering Ms. Sreelekha’s plea to quash the FIR registered against her, contending that the Magistrate's court had not notified her or allowed her to be heard before taking up the case. She also claimed that she had not referred to the minor survivors. The court held that the stay on coercive action would remain until the plea was resolved.

Published - July 21, 2026 08:23 pm IST