Kerala Man Acquitted From Case Approaches HC Seeking Help To Remove References Of Him As 'Accused' On Internet

Kerala High Court also sought a response from search engine Google and English newspapers. 

He also pointed out that his daughter's marriage was affected because of this issue.

A Kerala man, who was recently acquitted in a cheating case, approached High Court to remove references to his name as an 'accused' on internet platforms. S Sakeer Hussain, the petitioner, said that such references would amount to a violation of his right to privacy and his reputation under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. 

On Thursday, Kerala HC heard the petition and sought the responses of central and state governments. It also sought a response on the search engine Google and English newspapers. 

The plea read, "Reputation of a person is neither metaphysical nor a property in terms of mundane assets but an integral part of his sublime frame and a dent in it is a rupture of a person's dignity, negates and infringes fundamental values of citizenry right." 

The plea further emphasized that if the accused is found not guilty, his name will be automatically expunged from all records, especially those that are in the public domain.

The petitioner claimed that when a judge enters a judgment of acquittal, a person's identification as an accused is fully erased.

The petitioner stated, "In the entire search result, the petitioner is identified as an accused even though he has been ultimately acquitted from all charges."

He also pointed out that his daughter's marriage was affected because of this issue.

He has urged the High Court to direct the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the state government to redact his name from the public domain and to protect his right to reputation.

Through advocates Sandeep R.N., B. Muhammed Shaheel, and Keerthi Vijayan, the plea was moved in Kerala HC.