Arjun Ayanki Held in Kannur, Faces 23 Cases Including Alleged Police Threats

History-sheeter Arjun Ayanki was arrested in Kannur on Sunday after police conducted an extensive search across Kerala following allegations that he threatened police officers through social media, officials said.

Kannur City Police Commissioner B.V. Vijaya Bharath Reddy said Ayanki was arrested in Kannur town after a search operation that continued late into the night. Police sources said he was taken into custody at around 2.30 am from a lawyer’s apartment, following information about his whereabouts.

The arrest followed a search launched on Saturday morning under the leadership of ADGP P. Vijayan. Ayanki was subsequently taken to Kannur Town Police Station and is expected to be taken to Kothamangalam, where a case involving alleged threats to a police officer is being investigated.

According to police, 23 cases have been registered against Ayanki. The latest case relates to an incident at a resort in Kothamangalam, where police had conducted a search after suspecting that Ayanki and his associates had assembled for criminal activities.

After being released on bail, Ayanki allegedly posted threatening messages targeting the Station House Officer who led the operation. Police registered a fresh case based on the officer’s complaint.

The Kerala High Court recently rejected Ayanki’s anticipatory bail plea in the case. Police alleged that even after the court’s decision, he continued threatening officers through voice messages shared on social media.

Ayanki has also recently faced cases over alleged social-media posts in which he challenged Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and allegedly defamed Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.

Ayanki, a native of Azhikode in Kannur district, first came into the public spotlight in 2021 in connection with an alleged gold-smuggling network operating through Karipur airport.

Police had been searching for him for three days, during which several people, including his brother, were reportedly taken into custody as part of the investigation. Although Ayanki has claimed to be a CPI(M) supporter, the party has distanced itself from him.