The special investigation team (SIT) probing the ‘kafir screenshot’ case has arrested a local leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth organisation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)].

Jithin Bhaskaran, the arrested activist, is a member of the DYFI’s Vadakara block committee. He was interrogated by the SIT in connection with the case on Tuesday (June 16, 2026) and the arrest was recorded thereafter. Mr. Bhaskaran is the admin of the ‘Vadakara Squad’ WhatsApp group. He has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The case is related to a screenshot with communal content that had surfaced on the eve of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Vadakara. The content was used against United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Shafi Parambil. Mr. Parambil later won the election defeating the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) K.K. Shailaja.

Muslim Youth League activist Mohammed Kasim was initially named as an accused in the case. Subsequently, a fresh investigation was held after the intervention of the Kerala High Court. The police later concluded that Ribesh Ramakrishnan, who was then a DYFI leader, was the first person reported to have shared the screenshot. They also submitted a report in the court saying that it was becoming difficult to find the source from where Mr. Ramakrishnan had procured the screenshot.

The probe was reopened a few weeks ago after the UDF government came to power and formed the SIT.

The SIT thereafter questioned the admins of the ‘Vadakara Squad’ group and decided to expand the probe to ‘Kadathanadu Sakhakkal’ and ‘Bavuppara Sakhakkal’ WhatsApp groups after it reportedly obtained fresh leads in the case. Mr. Ramakrishnan, along with Manish and Amal, two witnesses in the case, reportedly told the investigators that the controversial screenshot had been received through the ‘Vadakara Squad’ group. Mr. Bhaskaran was reported to have shared it there. He had been questioned by the SIT earlier as well.

The police are reportedly awaiting forensic reports to establish the source and circulation of the screenshot. However, the district DYFI leadership recently alleged that the investigation was being used to corner its activists at the behest of the UDF and the Youth Congress.