Held for defaming college girl online in Kochi

KOCHI: The Ernakulam Rural police on Saturday arrested a 35-year-old man who allegedly defamed a college student and her friend by circulating fake WhatsApp messages. Shihab, hailing from Chelakkulam, was arrested after interrogating several persons who had circulated the message, officers said.

The accused on March 26 allegedly took a picture of the victim standing alongside one of her batch mates at the Aluva KSRTC bus stand, according to the police. Then he circulated a fake message saying the couple were about to elope. As the message had been widely circulated the victim's marriage proposal fell through. The accused was booked under the provisions of the IT Act. He was produced before a magistrate, said the officers.