Kochi, August 8:
Kerala Police have registered a fresh case against absconding history-sheeter Arjun Ayanki over an allegedly derogatory Facebook post targeting Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, even as special police teams continue an intensified search for him across the State.
The Ernakulam Rural Cyber Crime Police registered the FIR on Friday night following a complaint emailed to the State Police Chief by Manoj Jose Azhakath on August 7. The complaint was forwarded through the Cyber Operations Police Chief to the Ernakulam Rural District Police Chief before being taken up by the cyber police.
Ayanki has been booked under Sections 192 and 296(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to provocation with intent to cause a riot and obscene acts or words, respectively, along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act dealing with publishing or transmitting obscene material electronically.
According to the FIR, Ayanki uploaded the controversial post on his public Facebook profile at 9.52 pm on August 5. Police allege that the post contained derogatory references to Satheesan and was capable of provoking public disorder. The post also compared the Chief Minister unfavourably with former chief ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and Oommen Chandy.
The latest case comes as police step up efforts to arrest Ayanki in connection with separate cases involving alleged threats and abusive social media messages directed at police officers.
A 10-member special squad under the supervision of the Muvattupuzha DySP has been constituted to trace him. The manhunt intensified after Ayanki allegedly targeted the Kothamangalam and Oonnukal Station House Officers through voice messages and social media posts following his release on bail in an earlier criminal conspiracy case.
Ayanki was arrested along with associates during a pre-dawn raid at a Kothamangalam resort on May 3, two days before the Assembly elections. Police subsequently registered fresh cases after he allegedly continued attacking officers online.
Investigators expanded the search to several districts after his mobile phone location was traced to Thrissur. CCTV footage reportedly showed his vehicle crossing the Paliyekkara toll plaza, though police suspect he later changed vehicles to avoid detection.
Ayanki’s brother Akhil Ayanki was taken into custody in Thrissur for allegedly helping him evade arrest. Two associates from Kannur have also been detained on suspicion of providing shelter and logistical assistance.
Police said coordinated searches and raids were continuing at locations linked to Ayanki as efforts to apprehend him intensified.
