A court in Ernakulam has directed the police to examine a private complaint alleging unauthorised use of a person’s mobile phone number in the Malayalam film Officer On Duty.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Devika Lal passed the order after hearing the complainant. The Court directed the concerned Station House Officer (SHO) to submit a report under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Complainant Alleges Unauthorised Use of Mobile Number
According to the complaint, the complainant has used the mobile number since 2014.
He stated that he linked the number to several important personal and financial records. These include his Aadhaar card, PAN card, and bank accounts.
The complainant alleged that the filmmakers displayed the same number in Officer On Duty without his consent.
As a result, he began receiving numerous unsolicited calls from members of the public.
According to him, these calls caused significant inconvenience, distress, and disruption to his daily life.
Number Allegedly Appeared in a Film Scene
The complainant stated that he only recently discovered that the film allegedly featured his mobile number.
According to the complaint, the movie portrayed the number as the contact number of a female doctor character.
The complainant argued that the film’s widespread release significantly increased public access to his number.
Initially, the film released in theatres in February 2025.
Later, streaming platforms and television channels made the film available to a much wider audience.
Consequently, viewers across different regions and languages could access the content.
Court Directs Police to Examine Allegations
After considering the complaint, the Chief Judicial Magistrate directed the police to examine the allegations and submit a report.
The order records:
“Call for submission U/s 175(3) BNSS from the SHO concerned.”
Accordingly, the police will now assess the allegations raised by the complainant.
Matter Awaits Further Consideration
The Court will consider the matter further after receiving the police report.
The complaint raises allegations relating to privacy violation, identity theft, and the unauthorised use of personal information.
Therefore, the findings of the police inquiry may play a crucial role in determining the next course of action.
