Kerala CM orders action on fake pension campaign against CPI(M)'s PK Sreemathy
Synopsis
A case of mistaken identity in an RTI document spiralled into a coordinated smear campaign against CPI(M) veteran P.K. Sreemathy — and now Kerala's Chief Minister has activated the Home Department against it. With defamation proceedings imminent and cross-party solidarity on display, this is shaping up as a landmark test of Kerala's political and legal response to organised fake news.
Key Takeaways
Satheesan directed the Home Department to take urgent action against a fake campaign targeting CPI(M) leader P.K.
The campaign falsely alleged Sreemathy fraudulently drew an MLA's family pension ; the pension actually belonged to a different P.K.
Sreemathy , who died in February 2020 .
The misinformation originated from an RTI reply where two separate pension entries were allegedly distorted to appear as one.
The deceased pension holder's son, Ajith (Printex Ajith) , confirmed no pension has been received by the family for six years .
Sreemathy has announced defamation proceedings against those who spread the false reports.
The complaint has been forwarded to Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala for immediate legal action.
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has directed the state Home Department to take urgent and stringent action against a coordinated fake campaign targeting Communist Party of India (Marxist) Central Committee member and former Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy. The directive came after Sreemathy submitted a formal written complaint alleging a deliberate attempt to defame her through fabricated social media posts and online reports claiming she had fraudulently drawn an MLA's family pension.
The Fake Allegation and Its Origin
The misinformation campaign reportedly stemmed from an RTI reply on pensions paid to former legislators. The document listed two separate entries: the family pension of 'P.K. Sreemathy, wife of P.R. Krishnan', and the pension details of former MLA and ex-Minister P.K. Sreemathy of Kannur. According to officials, the two distinct entries were allegedly distorted and projected as referring to the same individual, triggering the false narrative.
The pension in question was, in fact, received by a different P.K. Sreemathy — the late wife of freedom fighter and Congress leader P.R. Krishnan, a former MLA from the erstwhile Travancore-Cochin Assembly and later the Kunnamkulam constituency. A retired teacher of A.K.M. Higher Secondary School, Poochatti, Thrissur, she had received the Assembly family pension following her husband's death in 1993. She passed away in February 2020, after which the pension was discontinued.
Family of Deceased Pension Holder Clarifies
Her son, Ajith (Printex Ajith), confirmed that no one in the family had received the pension over the past six years. He said his father's name had been drawn into an unnecessary controversy and suggested that the CPI(M) leader had either been targeted due to the similarity in names or as part of a deliberate effort to mislead the public.
Sreemathy's Reaction and Legal Action
On Thursday, Sreemathy broke down before the media, stating she was being targeted for no fault of her own. By Friday, she declared she would not forgive those responsible for spreading the false allegations and would initiate defamation proceedings against them. 'Many of those who carried the fake news have called me. Some even said they were prepared to fall at my feet and apologise,' she said. She also revealed that leaders from both the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had reached out to express solidarity.
Government's Next Steps
Chief Minister Satheesan immediately forwarded Sreemathy's complaint to state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, directing that appropriate legal action be initiated without delay. With formal defamation proceedings now on the cards and the Home Department activated, the episode has shifted from a misinformation controversy to a test of the government's resolve in combating organised fake news campaigns.
Point of View
Designed to ensure transparency, can be surgically misread to manufacture scandal. The fact that two identically named individuals appeared in the same pension document — and that this was allegedly exploited for a coordinated smear — raises uncomfortable questions about the information ecosystem around public records. Kerala's government has moved swiftly, but the real accountability test is whether defamation proceedings will reach those who amplified the campaign, not just those who originated it. Cross-party solidarity in this instance is notable, but it should not obscure the structural problem: without faster official clarification mechanisms, such campaigns can cause irreversible reputational damage before the facts catch up.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fake campaign against P.K. Sreemathy about?
The campaign falsely alleged that CPI(M) Central Committee member and former Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy had fraudulently drawn an MLA's family pension. The allegation was based on a distorted reading of an RTI document that listed two separate individuals with the same name, and has been categorically denied by officials and the family of the actual pension recipient.
Who actually received the pension at the centre of the controversy?
The pension was received by a different P.K. Sreemathy — the late wife of freedom fighter and Congress leader P.R. Krishnan, a former MLA from the Travancore-Cochin Assembly and later the Kunnamkulam constituency. She died in February 2020, after which the pension was discontinued.
What action has the Kerala government taken?
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan directed the state Home Department to take urgent and stringent action after receiving Sreemathy's formal complaint. He forwarded the complaint to Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala for immediate legal proceedings.
What legal steps is P.K. Sreemathy planning?
Sreemathy has announced she will initiate defamation proceedings against those responsible for spreading the false allegations. She stated she would not forgive those involved, even as several individuals who shared the fake news reportedly contacted her to apologise.
How did the misinformation originate?
The fake campaign reportedly stemmed from an RTI reply on former MLA pensions, which separately listed two individuals named P.K. Sreemathy. The two distinct entries were allegedly distorted and presented as referring to the same person, triggering the false narrative about pension fraud.
