The Kerala High Court issued a stay on further proceedings related to notices from the police's Crime Branch to the Malayalam newspaper Madhyamam Daily.

The notices sought details on how the newspaper accessed a Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) note, which reportedly stated that the names and passwords of several PSC applicants were available on the dark web.

Madhyamam Daily had reported the issue on July 28, accompanied by an image of the note. The Crime Branch Central Unit – I Deputy Superintendent, in a notice to the newspaper's Chief Editor, asserted that the PSC note in question was highly confidential. In response, the petitioners—Madhyamam's Chief Editor and Senior Sub-editor—stated that they could not disclose their source.

The petitioners approached the High Court seeking to quash the notice issued by the Crime Branch. They alleged facing constant threats and harassment and expressed apprehension that they might be named as accused for non-compliance with the notice. Alongside, they filed an application requesting the Court to stay all further proceedings related to the notices issued by the police's Crime Branch.

Justice K. V. Jayakumar while issuing notice on the plea said, "There shall be an interim stay of all further proceedings in connection with Annexures B and D notices issued by the 2nd respondent, for a period of two weeks". The Public Prosecutor took notice for the respondents and sought time for getting instructions.

The matter is next posted to January 16.