Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the assembly on Wednesday that a special investigation team had launched an investigation into a case related to the alleged morphing of women’s photographs taken during marriages for pornographic purpose.

Vijayan, according to PTI, was responding to a submission by CK Nanu of the JDS on the need for a detailed probe into the complaints against the owner and staff of Sadayam studio. The studio is alleged to have morphed photos of women taken during wedding parties and used it for pornographic use.

Quoting sources, Asian Age reported that there were images of more than 40,000 women, clicked during weddings and copied as well as stored in a hard disc from the studio.

Women’s Cell circle inspector Bhanumathi, who is investigating the case, said the accused had undergone a preliminary interrogation before they confessed to their crime.

The chief minister said that his government deemed it a serious issue adding that two suspects, identified as Dineshan and Satheeshan, both co-owners of the studio at Vadakara in Kozhikode district, had been arrested. The cops were also on the lookout for the third suspect, identified as Bibeesh.

Police have sealed the studio and recovered several documents from there, PTI quoted Vijayan as saying.

Nanu of the JDS said that the revelation had caused deep anxiety among the local population. He demanded a strict punishment for the guilty.

The Kerala State Women’s Commission had also initiated a suo motu case on the matter and had directed Superintendent of Police, Kozhikode, to form a special team to probe the issue under his supervision.