History-sheeter Arjun Ayanki remanded, shifted to Thalassery jail in Kerala’s Kannur
Criminal-case accused Arjun Ayanki was remanded in judicial custody by the Koothuparamba Magistrate Court on Sunday (August 9, 2026) in a case registered by the
Criminal-case accused Arjun Ayanki was remanded in judicial custody by the Koothuparamba Magistrate Court on Sunday (August 9, 2026) in a case registered by the Kannur cyber police. He was subsequently shifted to the special sub-jail in Thalassery. His lawyer M.K. Hassan said there were several other cases registered against Arjun. “Even if he secures bail in Sunday’s case, the police may subsequently arrest him in connection with other cases. We have already decided that we will not apply for bail in this case,” Mr. Hassan said. The Oonnukal police police are expected to approach the Kannur court on Monday (August 10, 2026) seeking his formal arrest in another case. The police, in the remand report, said granting bail to Arjun could lead to repetition of offences and that there was a possibility of him absconding and destroying evidence. The police said Arjun’s Facebook posts targeting Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala were intended to provoke the public, disturb public peace and incite violence.
The post allegedly contained obscene remarks and threats against the Minister. The cybercrime police sub-inspector is investigating the case, according to the report. The report also said a case had been registered against Arjun for allegedly posting sexually explicit remarks and threats on Facebook targeting the station house officer of the Kothamangalam police station and his family. Another case was registered by the Oonnukal police after Arjun allegedly abused and threatened the inspector through social media, following the Kerala High Court’s rejection of his anticipatory bail plea. The police said a Statewide search had been launched to trace Arjun who allegedly continued to make provocative statements on social media while in hiding and challenging the legal system and the police. He was finally taken into custody around 2.30 a.m. on Sunday from near Thalikavu in Kannur by the town police. Arjun had reached an apartment occupied by an advocate couple at Thalikavu.
The advocates reportedly maintained that he could not be arrested without a warrant. Arjun allegedly attempted to escape from the apartment during the ensuing developments and was caught by the police. Advocate Delitaa Titus told the media that Arjun had come to meet her with the intention of surrendering on Sunday. She denied hiding him and said she handed him over to the police as soon as they arrived. The arrest followed an intensive search launched by the police from Saturday afternoon after receiving information that Arjun was in Taliparamba. His movements had triggered criticism of the police after CCTV footage emerged showing him crossing the Paliyekkara toll plaza in a car and later having tea with friends at a cafe attached to Ayurgreen hospital in Edappal. Arjun, a native of Kappakkadavu in Azhikode, began his political activities as a unit secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation of India and later became prominent on social media as a Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] cyber activist.
The BriefWire