Religion-based WhatsApp group: Noose tightens for Gopalakrishnan, phone was not hacked; DGP hands over report to Chief Secretary

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The noose is tightening for Industries Department Director K Gopalakrishnan in the controversy over the creation of a religion-based WhatsApp group for IAS officers. The DGP has handed over a report to the Chief Secretary in the controversy. The report states that there was no evidence to prove that Gopalakrishnan's phone was hacked. Earlier, the Chief Secretary had directed the DGP to immediately submit a report on the matter. The Chief Secretary will seek an explanation from Gopalakrishnan after going through the report.

The police had stated that Gopalakrishnan's actions were suspicious. Gopalakrishnan had submitted his two phones to the police after formatting them. Google had earlier informed the police that the group was not created by hacking Gopalakrishnan's phone. Internet service providers also informed that no IP address other than that of Gopalakrishnan's phone was used to create the groups. This strengthened the police's suspicion that the WhatsApp group was indeed created by Gopalakrishnan. WhatsApp had also informed the police that the IAS officer's phone was not hacked.