K Gopalakrishnan faces scrutiny over religion-based WhatsApp group for IAS officers; Hacking claim dismissed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Director of Industries Department K. Gopalakrishnan is in trouble for forming a WhatsApp group of IAS officers on the basis of religion. Google informed the police that the group was not formed by hacking Gopalakrishnan's phone. Internet service providers also informed that no IP address other than that of Gopalakrishnan's phone was used to form the groups. This strengthened the police's suspicion that Gopalakrishnan himself formed the groups. Earlier, WhatsApp had also given a report to the police that no hacking had taken place. Meanwhile, the police is not clear whether to file a case as the messages were not delivered.

Two phones of Gopalakrishnan have been seized and sent for forensic examination. Things will be clear with WhatsApp sharing information about the time, place, phone number, who are the members and what the messages are when the groups are formed. C-DAC will also seek help to recover deleted data from phones.

On October 30, Gopalakrishnan admin created religious groups. The complaint was filed after the information came out. Meanwhile, Gopalakrishnan repeated the statement that the groups were formed by hacking the phone and got the information from friends but the police say that if WhatsApp is hacked, it will not be possible to control and delete groups on its own.

Shortcut to central deputation

-According to the police, he was trying to inform the higher-ups at the center that he is influential among the IAS in Kerala to secure a higher position in Delhi on central deputation.

-He tried for deputation twice before but did not get it. First it was formed by a group of Hindu officials. As the controversy arose, a group of Muslim officials also formed some caste-based groups.