Kannur: History-sheeter Arjun Ayanki, who was on the run after allegedly threatening police officers and challenging Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, was arrested here on Sunday, officials said. Kannur City Police Commissioner BV Vijaya Bharath Reddy told reporters that Ayanki was arrested from Kannur town itself following a long chase that continued into the midnight.
“It was a combined effort by the entire state police under the leadership of ADGP P Vijayan. We were in search of him since Saturday morning,” he said.
Police sources said he was taken into custody when he reached a lawyer’s apartment at around 2.30 am.
Following a tip-off about his presence in Kannur city, police carried out searches since Saturday morning, they said.
After being taken into custody, Ayanki was shifted to Kannur Town Police Station, police said.
He will be taken to Kothamangalam, where a probe is underway into a case involving threats to a police officer.
According to police, there are 23 cases against Ayanki. He was recently booked for allegedly challenging Home Minister Chennithala and defaming Chief Minister VD Satheesan on social media platforms.
When reporters approached Ayanki, he asked, “Could the fishermen missing be traced?”
Police had been searching for Ayanki for the past three days across Kerala, with several persons, including his brother, taken into custody as part of the probe.
A native of Azhikode in Kannur district, Ayanki first came to public attention in connection with a gold smuggling network operating through Karipur airport in 2021.
The latest case against him stems from a police search at a resort in Kothamangalam, where he and friends were taken into custody on suspicion of assembling for criminal activities.
After being released on bail, Ayanki allegedly posted threatening messages on social media targeting the Kothamangalam Station House Officer who led the search.
Based on the officer’s complaint, police registered a fresh case against him.
In another case, the Kerala High Court recently dismissed Ayanki’s anticipatory bail plea.
Police alleged that following the dismissal of his bail plea, Ayanki continued to threaten police officers by sending voice messages through social media platforms.
Even though Ayanki claims that he is a CPI(M) supporter, the party has distanced itself from him.
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