Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Arjun Ayanki challenges Kerala home minister as police launch manhunt
A man named Arjun Ayanki in India is in trouble with the police.
He is called a 'history-sheeter,' which means he has a criminal record.
The police in Kerala are searching for him because they say he threatened a police officer.
Ayanki wrote a post on Facebook challenging the Home Minister, Ramesh Chennithala.
He asked the minister to order a new investigation into an old case.
He said that if the new investigation proves he is innocent, action should be taken against a police officer.
He promised to honor the minister with a shawl and even a kiss if proven innocent.
The police formed a special team with cyber experts and are raiding hideouts to find him.
Ayanki was once linked to a gold smuggling network at an airport.
A court recently refused to give him bail protection.
History-sheeter Arjun Ayanki challenged Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala in a Facebook post and asked him not to 'intimidate' him.
Ayanki demanded a reinvestigation into the case in which he and his friends were jailed, saying action should be taken against Circle Inspector Prashanth if he is proven innocent.
Police launched a statewide manhunt and formed a Special Investigation Team after Ayanki's phone sent its last signal from a tower in Kochi/Ernakulam.
Ayanki, a former activist of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), was linked to a gold smuggling network operating through Karipur airport and a 2021 gold-snatching incident.
The Kerala High Court dismissed Ayanki's anticipatory bail plea in a criminal intimidation case stemming from threatening messages to the Kothamangalam police officer.
- Who
- Arjun Ayanki, a history-sheeter, and Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala; police in Kerala are conducting the manhunt.
- What
- Ayanki publicly challenged the Home Minister in a Facebook post while police launched a statewide manhunt over allegations that he threatened police officers.
- When
- Reported on August 7; the challenge came days after Chennithala warned of a crackdown on those threatening police officers.
- Where
- Kochi and Ernakulam district, Kerala; Ayanki's phone sent its last signal from a tower in Kochi/Ernakulam.
- Why
- Ayanki is accused of sending threatening voice messages and posts targeting police officers, including the officer who led a raid at a resort in Kothamangalam.
Ayanki's Position
Police and Minister's Position
Validity of the case
Ayanki's Position
Ayanki claims the case against him is fabricated and was foisted by Circle Inspector Prashanth abusing his authority; he demands a reinvestigation to prove his innocence.
Police and Minister's Position
Police registered a fresh case after Ayanki allegedly posted threatening messages and sent voice messages targeting officers, and the Kerala High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.
Crackdown warning and challenge
Ayanki's Position
Ayanki says Chennithala should not try to intimidate him because he comes from a different political school, and he dares the minister to order a reinvestigation, promising a shawl and a kiss if proven innocent.
Police and Minister's Position
Chennithala said those who challenge the law enforcement apparatus will face swift consequences and warned, 'Wait and see what comes next.'
- Subject
- Arjun Ayanki, history-sheeter and former DYFI activist
- Official challenged
- Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala
- Location
- Kochi, Kerala
- Police response
- Statewide manhunt and Special Investigation Team (SIT) with cyber experts
- Legal development
- Kerala High Court dismissed anticipatory bail plea
- Criminal background
- Linked to gold smuggling network operating through Karipur airport
- Trigger for case
- Threatening voice messages to Kothamangalam Circle Inspector
- Report date
- August 7 (PTI)
