Mangaluru

A 22-year-old man has been arrested by the Mangaluru City CEN Crime Police for allegedly operating an Instagram page called Karavali_tigers, through which provocative messages were posted. The arrest came after a case was registered in July, leading investigators to track him down across state borders.

Details of the case

The accused, identified as Mohammed Kaif, is a resident of Malavantige in Dakshina Kannada. Police had registered a case on July 19, 2025, after receiving complaints about provocative posts circulated via the Instagram account.

Investigators relied on technical evidence, including IP address tracking, which revealed his location in Tamil Nadu. A police team travelled to Tamil Nadu, arrested him there, and later produced him before a Mangaluru court, which remanded him to judicial custody.

Legal provisions invoked

The accused has been booked under multiple provisions, including:

  • Section 66(c) of the Information Technology Act

  • Sections 56, 353(1), and 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)

    • Police officials said these sections cover unauthorised use of digital identities, provocation, and acts that disturb public order.

    Further investigation

    Authorities revealed that the Instagram account had been under watch for months. The accused allegedly changed usernames frequently to avoid detection, which initially slowed the investigation.

    Police also confirmed that another case related to the same Instagram page has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether more individuals were involved in running or contributing to the account.

    Conclusion

    The arrest highlights the increasing use of cybercrime tracking by police to curb provocative online content. Officials stated that strict action will be taken against those misusing social media platforms to spread messages capable of disturbing peace.