IPS officer Merin Joseph’s photo with actor Nivin Pauly on FB sparks controversy

Moments after Kerala Assistant Commissioner of Police Merin Joseph posted her picture with popular southern actor Nivin Pauly on Facebook, the image went viral grabbing thousands of 'likes'. Her post was titled - "With Nivin Pauly...The current sensation in Kerala". The officer and the actor were both guests at an event in a college in Ernakulam. She has been facing criticism for uploading a photo taken when she was in uniform.

Fed up with the media attention on her photo with the actor, Joseph took to social media to claiming that "non-issues are being sensationalised." In her clarification, she said that the picture was taken by Congress lawmaker Hibi Eden on her request and with the actor's consent. In a scathing post on Facebook on Thursday, Joseph said, "I was a guest and had no "official duties".

There was a huge gap during the event, the Home Minister had already left, and other guests on stage had moved aside, what am I as a guest with no other duties supposed to do? Jump off the stage? Stand in attention saluting the audience? ... The media channels which pander to such cheapness and voyeurism, have my pity.

I pray such desperate means don't become the only means to earn their livelihood. Why didn't I react so far to the so-called controversy caused over my photo with Nivin Pauly at the MLA function in Ernakulam to felicitate students? Because I don't react to non-issues. And for those who still need clarification, I am pointing out that the photo was taken by MLA Hibi Eden after securing his consent and that too, during a lighter moment of laughter over a shared joke.

I don't know why some dubious, unheard-of news channel, which doesn't have the slightest idea of journalistic ethics, is trying to define protocols for officers. For the information of anybody who cares about this cheap sensationalising, I state that I was a guest at the function, had no "official duties", and it was only in the long gap that occurred while the organisers got the stage ready for prize distribution that all this happened.

I had already finished reading out the oath (which was the only task entrusted to me). When such a gap is there, the Home Minister has already left the venue and the other guests on the stage have moved aside, what am I as a guest with no other duties supposed to do? Jump off the stage? Stand in attention saluting the audience?? Or go sit in an available chair in the corner of the stage and keep myself occupied? For those who think that I was neglecting some important duty or doing something unbecoming, I merely ask which law states that one can't upload a photo when idly passing time?? I didn't disrupt the arrangements or cause any inconvenience except perhaps catch the attention of some reporter who didn't have any worthwhile work.

The media channels which pander to such cheapness and voyeurism, have my pity. I pray such desperate means don't become the only means for them to earn their livelihood." This is not the first time that Joseph is in the line of fire. Merin had become an Internet sensation in India for being an "extremely attractive" person, has recently got married.

She married a Kottayam-based psychiatrist Chris Abraham at Puthupally Orthodox church. Merin became a social media star after a Facebook page named "Kochi Pazhaya Kochiyalla" posted her photo with a caption, "Merin Joseph IPS - How many likes for our new ACP of Kochi?"

Fans went frenzy and shared the news on all social networking platforms. However, the then trainee clarified that it is fake news and posted that she was under training in Hyderabad on her official Facebook page:

"An urgent clarification- i am NOT the new ACP of Kochi. Still under training in NPA Hyderabad. Will update when I get my first charge in January next year. Kindly refrain from believing baseless rumours floating in social media. Thanks."

Later, in December she informed her fans regarding her first posting as ASP under training in Kochi, Kerala. "First posting news! Will be heading to Ernakulam (Rural) as Assistant Superintendent of Police- ASP(Under Training). Not to be confused with Ernakulam city (Kochi) . Lol. Peace :)" While many congratulated the newly married couple, some of her fans reportedly expressed their disappointment that she has "shattered their dreams."