Kerala fugitive Arjun Ayanki arrested after taunting police on social media

Kerala fugitive Arjun Ayanki arrested after taunting police on social media

A former political activist from Kerala who allegedly taunted police officers on social media while evading arrest has been apprehended in Kannur district. Arjun Ayanki was taken into custody in the early hours of Sunday from a flat where he had reportedly been hiding, ending a multi-day statewide search.

Ayanki was produced before a magistrate and remanded to 14 days in judicial custody. Two associates identified as Jithin and Subhash were also arrested on charges of helping him evade capture.

From youth wing secretary to accused fugitive

Hailing from Azhikode in Kannur district, Ayanki began his political career as a unit secretary for the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which has over 9.8 million members nationally. He built a considerable online following as an outspoken party supporter, frequently targeting political opponents through his posts.

DYFI severed ties with Ayanki after allegations of criminal connections emerged. CPI(M) leaders have since distanced the party from him and from what are known in Kerala as quotation gangs — criminal organizations that provide estimated prices for committing crimes of varying severity, composed of young men with hierarchies, codes of conduct, and reported connections to police, judiciary, and political parties.

Alleged connections to gold smuggling networks

Ayanki first drew significant public attention in 2021 when his name surfaced in connection with an alleged gold smuggling network tied to Karipur airport. Investigators say gangs linked to this network targeted people carrying smuggled gold after they landed in Kerala. His name also came up in the Ramanattukara case, in which five people were killed in a road accident while allegedly pursuing a vehicle connected to a gold smuggling network.

Gold smuggling remains a persistent problem in Kerala. According to government data presented to Parliament, Kerala accounted for the maximum quantity of smuggled gold seized in India in 2022, with 755.81 kg seized compared to 586.95 kg in 2021. The state was also the site of the high-profile 2020 Kerala gold smuggling case, in which 30 kg of gold worth ₹14.82 crores was seized from a diplomatic bag at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on July 5, 2020, triggering investigations by the NIA, Customs, and Enforcement Directorate.

In October 2023, Kerala Police uncovered a gold smuggling racket at Karipur Airport involving CISF and Customs officials, with a CISF assistant commandant allegedly coordinating gold smuggling over 60 times. Quotation gangs in parts of Kerala have reportedly been hired by Gulf-based gold smuggling rackets to facilitate distribution of smuggled gold.

Ayanki has also faced separate cases registered by the Customs Department. None of these allegations have been proven in court.

Alleged threats against police officers

The immediate trigger for the recent manhunt was a case involving alleged threats made against police officers on social media. In May, police arrested Ayanki and several associates during a pre-dawn raid on a resort in Kothamangalam, alleging the group had gathered to plan criminal activity. He was released on bail shortly afterward.

After his release, Ayanki allegedly targeted the officers behind the Kothamangalam raid on social media, including one post reportedly threatening the officer who led it, saying he would not let him live in peace even after retirement. Police filed cases over the threats. Ayanki allegedly continued posting — reportedly taunting police even while in hiding.

High court denies anticipatory bail

When Ayanki sought anticipatory bail in the threats case, the Kerala High Court turned him down. Justice Kauser Edappagath observed that the accusations were serious, showed premeditated criminal acts, and were defamatory in character, while noting that custodial interrogation was necessary.

That decision intensified the search for him. Police stepped up efforts to locate him and examined his social media accounts to determine whether the posts were coming from him or someone posting on his behalf.

Tracked down with help from auto-rickshaw driver

The trail led to a flat in Kannur. According to police, an auto-rickshaw driver grew suspicious of a passenger and tipped off authorities. Officers cross-checked CCTV footage, confirmed the man's identity, and traced him to the flat. Ayanki was arrested at around 2 am on Sunday.

He was taken for a medical examination before being brought to Kannur Cyber Police station, then produced before the Kuthuparamba magistrate, who ordered 14 days of judicial custody. He is expected to be moved to Thalassery sub-jail.

Extensive criminal record

According to police records, Ayanki is an accused in a total of 20 cases registered across multiple police stations in Kerala, involving charges of theft, conspiracy, obstructing government employees, incitement to riot, and criminal intimidation. Cases have been filed at Karipur, Thrissur Railway, Meenakshipuram, Kothamangalam, Oonnukal, Valapattanam, Kannur Town, Kottayam Railway, and Ernakulam Rural Cyber Crime police stations.

A Kerala High Court order in an earlier case referenced his criminal history while weighing a bail plea. He was also remanded in 2023 over the alleged assault of a female railway ticket examiner.

More recently, cases have centered on his social media activity. According to local media reports, Ernakulam Rural Cyber Police registered a case over a Facebook post allegedly targeting former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, which police said was intended to defame him and provoke public hostility. Separately, Kannur Cyber Police registered a case over social media posts allegedly targeting Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who assumed office on May 18, 2026, as part of the V.D. Satheesan-led UDF government.

Police are reportedly considering invoking provisions of the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA) against Ayanki. The act, enacted in 2007 and amended in 2014, allows for one-year remand periods and specifically targets those involved in extortion and quotation activities.

What comes next

Ayanki remains in judicial custody for 14 days while police continue investigating the cases against him, including the alleged threats against officers. Any bail applications or further legal steps will be decided by the courts.

Ayanki remains an accused person. None of the allegations against him have been proven in court.