Kingpin in photo morphing case arrested in Kerala

POLICE HAD EARLIER TAKEN STUDIOOWNER AND PHOTOGRAPHER INTOCUSTODY

The accused is believed to have morphed faces of women from the photos that he took as a wedding photographer and then posted them on adult sites. It is yet to be ascertained whether he pursued it for commercial gain or as a perversion.

The main suspect in the morphing of photos of women taken duringwedding ceremonies, subsequently using them in sleaze videos, has been arrested inKerala.

The suspect, Bibeesh, who is a photographer with the Sadayam Studio in Vadakara, was picked up yesterday by Kerala police fromIdukki district.

Police had earlier arrested the studio owner, Dinesan, and a photographer at the studio, Satheesan. They were arrested and charged under the provisions of the IT Act, and also for defamation. Police believe Bibeesh may have about 45,000morphed images on his laptop, which has been seized.

The accused is believed to havemorphed faces of women from the photos that he took as a wedding photographer and thenposted themonadult sites. It is yet to be ascertained whether he pursued it for commercial gain or as a perversion.

The incident has sent shock waves across the state, with women fearing their photos may have been morphed and posted on various sites, including pornographic ones.

Nearly a dozenwomen have so far complained to the police, and once the hard disk is examined by police, theremay be more women who would want to file complaints against Bibeesh.

Protests

A people’s action committee formed to press for the arrest of Bibeesh had conducted a protestmarch in Kozhikode, demanding the arrest of the photographer. Dozens of women participated in the march.

The All Kerala Photographers’ Associationcondemned the act of the accused photographer and said a miscreant like him had brought dishonour to the entirewedding photographers’ fraternity.