Malappuram (Kerala) | The police have launched an investigation after a fake news clip claiming that Kerala PWD Minister P K Basheer had justified deaths caused by communicable diseases was circulated on social media, officials said on Thursday.

The Malappuram Cyber Police registered a case based on a complaint filed by a person close to the minister and began an investigation.

According to police, the complaint alleged that a fabricated news clip carrying the logo of a Malayalam daily was circulated on Facebook through accounts belonging to two persons identified as Jafar K T and Damodaran.

The fake post claimed that Basheer had said the deaths due to communicable diseases were "God's decision" and that the Health Minister should not be blamed, police said.

The post, carrying the minister's photograph, was widely circulated on social media platforms, officials added.

Police have registered a case under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including offences related to forgery and intentional provocation with intent to cause a riot.

Officials said efforts were underway to identify the origin of the fake post and those who shared it were also being questioned.

Basheer later said in a social media post that he had lodged a police complaint over the circulation of the fabricated news clip.