Congress MP from Kerala's Vadakara constituency, Shafi Parambil, on Wednesday, 17 June broke his silence following the first major breakthrough in the investigation into the controversial 'Kafir' screenshot case, alleging that the fabricated image was a deliberate communal weapon aimed at fracturing social unity in the state. Parambil maintained that the people of Kerala had firmly rejected the attempt.

What Parambil Said

Speaking publicly for the first time since the investigation gained momentum, Parambil said the truth had emerged after nearly two years and expressed gratitude to the residents of Vadakara and the police for bringing the facts to light.

'The CPI-M threw a communal bomb at the unity of the state through the 'Kafir' screenshot. But Malayalis themselves destroyed that attempt,' he said.

The MP alleged that similar divisive attempts had continued in areas such as Perambra and pointed to earlier controversies involving communal messaging. He stated that the political objective was to create voter division during the Vadakara Lok Sabha election. Parambil also reiterated that the United Democratic Front (UDF) had, from the outset, maintained it had no role in creating or circulating the fake content, and alleged that efforts were made to shift blame onto another political group.

The Investigation So Far

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has found that arrested Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader Jithin Bhaskar allegedly forwarded the screenshot individually to around 200 persons via WhatsApp. Police have stated that all those who circulated the fake screenshot could face action and be named as accused in the case.

The SIT is preparing to seek Bhaskar's custody to identify the original creator of the message and determine whether others were involved in its creation. The forensic examination report of Bhaskar's mobile phone has been received by the SIT, and investigators are set to question him based on the scientific evidence gathered.

What Remains Unresolved

Notably, police have not yet established who originally created the fake screenshot. The investigation is also examining whether the content was prepared on instructions from any other individual, leaving the chain of command unclear.

Background and Political Context

The case triggered a significant political controversy during the 2024 Vadakara Lok Sabha election campaign. The fabricated message allegedly sought to create a religious divide by targeting both Parambil and Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate K.K. Shailaja. The arrest of the DYFI leader marked the first concrete breakthrough in a case that had remained unresolved for close to two years.

This comes amid broader concerns over the use of digital platforms to spread communally charged content during election cycles — a pattern that investigators and civil society groups say is becoming increasingly difficult to counter. With the forensic trail now active, the SIT's next moves could determine whether the case reaches those who allegedly directed the operation.