KOTTAYAM: The state government has ordered a departmental investigation against a DySP who allegedly returned the mobile phone of an accused who took nude pictures of school girls. It was alleged that Pala DySP Shaju Jose had returned the mobile phone to the accused without even examining the phone. The government took the action on the order issued by the Changanassery fast-track court.

The alleged incident took place in 2019 when Shaju Jose served as Manimala CI. Shaju had not registered a POCSO court against the accused who broke into a school and took naked pictures of girls. The court also observed that Shaju did not send the phone of the accused for forensic examination. The court ruled that this was irresponsible behavior on the part of the officer and that such behaviour could not be accepted.