The Kannur Rural Cyber Police have registered a case against six media organisations over the circulation of allegedly false claims that senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader and former MP P.K. Sreemathi was drawing a family pension in the name of a former legislator.

The case was registered on Saturday night based on Ms. Sreemathi’s complaint under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act, and Section 66 D of the Information Technology Act, the police said on Sunday. The provision related to offences including outraging the modesty of women online, cheating and misuse of electronic communication.

The police said the six accused named in the FIR are Janam TV, Karma News, Daily Hunt, Bharat Live, Janmabhumi daily, and Kannur evening daily Sudhinam. An investigation is under way.

The controversy erupted after several online news platforms, citing purported Right to Information (RTI) documents, alleged that Ms. Sreemathi was receiving a family pension in the name of former Congress MLA P.R. Krishnan.

Family clarifies

However, Mr. Krishnan’s family clarified that the pension beneficiary was his widow, who is also named P.K. Sreemathi, and that the allegations against the CPI(M) leader arose solely because both women share the same name. P.R. Krishnan represented the Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly between 1954 and 1956.

The RTI response had referred to Ms. Sreemathi without any additional identifying details, leading to the mistaken identification. The CPI(M) leader has maintained that she has never received any pension in the name of the former MLA and described the campaign as a deliberate attempt to tarnish her reputation.

Following the circulation of the allegations, Ms. Sreemathi lodged complaints with Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, and State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar, seeking legal action against those responsible.

Published - July 26, 2026 06:39 pm IST