The Kerala Police on Monday registered 19 cases related to fake campaigns on social media over relief work for floods that have ravaged the state. State Police Chief Loknath Behera said that various cyber wings of the police have registered the cases and the probe has already begun.

"The cases have been registered for spreading false campaigns on the relief works and all such people would be arrested and proceeded against as per the law," said Behera. 

This action comes a day after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said that those engaged in these acts are anti-social elements. 

At a press conference on Sunday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan spoke firmly against any propaganda aimed at discouraging people from contributing to the CM’s relief fund.

“The propaganda that the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF) has been spent for other purposes is wrong. Circulating wrong messages has affected the rescue operations and discouraged people from taking appropriate decisions. A combined effort is needed to prevent rumours and fake news through social media,” the CM said.

“CMDRF is an official system and the money received would be used for distress relief only. It also consists of budget allocation. People shouldn’t fall for this propaganda,” the CM added.

Moreover, volunteers at various collection points across the state also alleged that the spread of misinformation about donations made by the public not reaching relief camps have widely affected the participation of the public in various collection centres this year.

Since last week, heavy rains in most districts of the state have left 83 people dead and over 2.6 lakh people are housed in around 1,500 relief camps across the state.