The police have registered a case regarding a fake social media post carrying the picture of the Local Self-Government department (LSGD) Minister K.M. Shaji, falsely claiming that building permit fee had been reduced, officials said on Saturday.

The case was registered by the Thiruvananthapuram City Cyber Police following a complaint filed by a person close to the Minister on Friday, officials said.

According to the police, the complaint pertains to a social media card circulating with a picture of the Minister.

The post claimed that the building permit fee hike, which came into effect a few years ago, has been withdrawn by the department.

The police said the case was registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act and the Kerala Police Act.

Efforts are underway to trace the origin of the fake post, which was circulated through Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, the police said.

Officials also said that a similar case involving a fake post carrying the picture of Chief Minister V D Satheesan is under investigation.