Kerala history-sheeter Arjun Ayanki remains on the run, brother arrested
Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.History-sheeter Arjun Ayanki remains on the run as Kerala Police intensifies their search for him across the state. His brother Akhil Ayanki was arrested, and two of his associates were taken into custody on August 7, Friday, for allegedly helping Arjun evade arrest.A special police team has been searching for Ayanki across Kerala after he openly challenged State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on social media and dared the police to arrest him. The action comes amid multiple cases against him, including allegations of threatening police officers through social media.Akhil was taken into custody in Thrissur on Friday, while Ayanki’s associates Saud and Ismail were also detained on suspicion of assisting him. Police have been searching locations linked to Ayanki, as well as his relatives and associates, as part of the operation to trace him.The manhunt followed a Facebook post by Ayanki on August 7, in which he challenged Chennithala to order a fresh investigation into a case in which he and his friends were arrested and jailed. Ayanki alleged that the case was fabricated and demanded action against Circle Inspector Prashanth if a reinvestigation established that he was innocent.He also referred to Chennithala’s warning that those threatening police officers would face action and said he was ready to honour the minister if he ordered a fresh probe. Ayanki ended the post by telling the minister not to try to intimidate him.Following the post, the Home Minister directed the police to arrest Ayanki at the earliest. A special team was formed by Ernakulam Rural Police, with the search subsequently expanded to multiple locations.Police traced Ayanki’s mobile phone location to Thrissur on Friday and obtained visuals purportedly showing him crossing the Paliyekkara toll plaza. Ayanki later claimed on social media that he was waiting at the Vadakkunnathan Temple grounds, taunting the police searching for him.The police are also investigating allegations of Ayanki threatening the Kothamangalam Station House Officer after being released on bail in a case registered against him. The Kerala High Court recently rejected his anticipatory bail plea in the matter.He was subsequently accused of targeting Oonnukal Inspector B S Adarsh, who was investigating the alleged threats against the Kothamangalam officer. Police said Ayanki sent the officer a voice message containing abusive and threatening remarks and later shared it on social media. Another case was registered based on this.A special investigation team was formed to arrest Ayanki in connection with the alleged threats against the Kothamangalam and Oonnukal station house officers. The team is headed by Muvattupuzha Deputy Superintendent of Police K R Manoj and includes officers from the Oonnukal and Kuttampuzha police stations.The Ernakulam Rural Cyber Police have also registered a case against Ayanki over a Facebook post in which he allegedly made derogatory remarks about former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Police have invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, alleging that the post was intended to provoke public disorder.Ayanki, a native of Azhikode in Kannur district, came to wider public attention in 2021 in connection with an alleged gold smuggling network operating through Karipur airport. In May, Ernakulam Rural Police had taken him and five others into preventive custody following a pre-dawn raid at a resort in Kothamangalam, alleging that they had assembled to plan criminal activities.Ayanki has denied the allegations and maintained that he and his associates were falsely implicated in the case. His latest social media posts have triggered an intensified police operation to trace and arrest him.
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HISTORY-sheeter Arjun Ayanki remains on the run as Kerala Police intensify their search for him across the state.
His brother Akhil Ayanki was arrested, and two of his associates were taken into custody on August 7, Friday, for allegedly helping Arjun evade arrest.
A special police team has been searching for Ayanki across Kerala after he openly challenged State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on social media and dared the police to arrest him.
The action comes amid multiple cases against him, including allegations of threatening police officers through social media.
Akhil was taken into custody in Thrissur on Friday, while Ayanki’s associates Saud and Ismail were also detained on suspicion of assisting him.
Police have been searching locations linked to Ayanki, as well as his relatives and associates, as part of the operation to trace him.
The manhunt followed a Facebook post by Ayanki on August 7, in which he challenged Chennithala to order a fresh investigation into a case in which he and his friends were arrested and jailed.
Ayanki alleged that the case was fabricated and demanded action against Circle Inspector Prashanth if a reinvestigation established that he was innocent.
He also referred to Chennithala’s warning that those threatening police officers would face action and said he was ready to honour the minister if he ordered a fresh probe.
Ayanki ended the post by telling the minister not to try to intimidate him.
Following the post, the Home Minister directed the police to arrest Ayanki at the earliest.
A special team was formed by Ernakulam Rural Police, with the search subsequently expanded to multiple locations.
Police traced Ayanki’s mobile phone location to Thrissur on Friday and obtained visuals purportedly showing him crossing the Paliyekkara toll plaza.
Ayanki later claimed on social media that he was waiting at the Vadakkunnathan Temple grounds, taunting the police searching for him.
The police are also investigating allegations of Ayanki threatening the Kothamangalam Station House Officer after being released on bail in a case registered against him.
The Kerala High Court recently rejected his anticipatory bail plea in the matter.
He was subsequently accused of targeting Oonnukal Inspector B S Adarsh, who was investigating the alleged threats against the Kothamangalam officer.
Police said Ayanki sent the officer a voice message containing abusive and threatening remarks and later shared it on social media. Another case was registered based on this.
A special investigation team was formed to arrest Ayanki in connection with the alleged threats against the Kothamangalam and Oonnukal station house officers.
The team is headed by Muvattupuzha Deputy Superintendent of Police K R Manoj and includes officers from the Oonnukal and Kuttampuzha police stations.
The Ernakulam Rural Cyber Police have also registered a case against Ayanki over a Facebook post in which he allegedly made derogatory remarks about former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Police have invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, alleging that the post was intended to provoke public disorder.
Ayanki, a native of Azhikode in Kannur district, came to wider public attention in 2021 in connection with an alleged gold smuggling network operating through Karipur airport. In May, Ernakulam Rural Police had taken him and five others into preventive custody following a pre-dawn raid at a resort in Kothamangalam, alleging that they had assembled to plan criminal activities.
Ayanki has denied the allegations and maintained that he and his associates were falsely implicated in the case. His latest social media posts have triggered an intensified police operation to trace and arrest him.
