Two more cases have been registered against Abel Augustine, third-year MBBS student of Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College in connection with the alleged morphing and circulation of obscene images of fellow women students. With the latest FIRs, the total number of criminal cases against the accused has risen to five.

Abel was re-arrested by the Medical College police on Thursday following the registration of the new cases. The police had come under fire for purportedly failing to register all complaints and invoking “weak” legal provisions against the accused in the first case, which purportedly resulted in the accused securing bail.

The case pertains to allegations that the accused downloaded or took screenshots of photographs and Instagram stories posted by women students, digitally morphed them into obscene images, and circulated them through online platforms.

According to the investigators, the victims became aware of the alleged misuse only after the manipulated images reached them, thus prompting multiple complaints. The fresh cases were registered after more students approached the police, following widespread protests by medical students who alleged that the initial investigation was inadequate.

Over 20 students targeted

The police suspect that over 20 students may have been targeted by the accused. The investigation team has launched a cyber forensic examination of the accused’s social media accounts and digital devices. The possibility of other people being involved in the circulation of the images is also being investigated.

Meanwhile, a group of students has submitted a complaint to the Home Minister, alleging lapses in police investigation. They have sought a comprehensive inquiry, claiming that despite multiple complaints, separate FIRs were not registered promptly and the statements from all complainants were initially not recorded.

Published - July 24, 2026 07:08 pm IST