Police make it a matter of prestige to arrest Arjun Ayanki; suspect someone else using his social media accounts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police are taking all possible efforts to nab Arjun Ayanki, an accused in several criminal cases and former CPM cyber warrior, who publicly challenged the police and the home minister. Police say that he is still within their reach. The police conducted extensive searches in Kochi following strict directions from Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala to arrest Arjun Ayanki as soon as possible. The searches were carried out after his last tower location was found to be in Ernakulam.

The police suspect that someone else may be using Arjun Ayanki’s social media accounts. There is also suspicion that showing Ernakulam as his tower location could be an attempt to mislead the police. Meanwhile, it is learnt that he has started efforts to get anticipatory bail. The police are trying to arrest him before he gets bail. Ayanki had yesterday challenged the police asking them to do what they can. Chennithala reacted strongly to Ayanki’s message, saying those who challenge the force would soon face the consequences.

Arjun Ayanki then challenged Chennithala on social media. In a Facebook post, he said, ‘I challenge Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala to order a reinvestigation into the case in which me and my friends were made accused and jailed. If I am found innocent, I challenge him to take action against circle inspector Prashanth Kumar, who abused his authority by filing a false case against us. If that happens, I will come directly to you, honour you with a shawl and give you a kiss. So don't try to intimidate me. The party I grew up with is different.’

The high court had rejected his anticipatory bail plea in the case of threatening Kothamangalam inspector Prashanth Kumar. While the police were attempting to arrest him, he allegedly issued another threat through a voice message on social media. His challenge was, ‘Catch me if you can’.