The house of Renjitha G. Nair, a native of Pullad in Pathanamthitta, who died in the plane crash in Ahmedabad.
| Photo Credit: LEJU KAMAL
The Kerala government on Friday (June 13, 2025) suspended a Revenue department official on the charge of making defamatory remarks against Renjitha G. Nair, the Malayali nurse who died in the Ahmedabad air crash on Thursday (June 12, 2025).
In a statement, Revenue Minister K. Rajan said that social media posts by A. Pavithran, a junior superintendent attached to the Vellarikundu taluk office in Kasaragod district, were “mean, spiteful, and cruel.”
He promised immediate disciplinary action.
Consequently, Kasaragod District Collector K. Inbasekar suspended Mr. Pavithran on Mr. Rajan’s orders, pending inquiry.
Public outrage
Mr. Pavithran’s post about the single mother who died in the mishap while returning to her workplace in London after a brief holiday with her two young daughters and ailing mother caused an outpouring of public outrage, which resonated across the conventional and social media.
A preliminary government inquiry found Mr. Pavithran had slandered Renjitha on casteist lines and also demeaned the latter in prurient terms.
Pavithran later apologises
Health Minister Veena George, who called on Renjitha’s mother and children in Pathanamthitta, expressed shock at the condemnable social media posts and promised immediate action. Mr. Pavithran later apologised and withdrew the controversial post.
A senior official stated that the police were likely to book the official on charges of social media abuse under the provisions of the BNS and the IT Act.
Published – June 13, 2025 12:16 pm IST
