‘I did everything myself’: Arjun Ayanki after court grants 3-day police custody

Thalassery: Arjun Ayanki, who was remanded in connection with a case over his social media posts challenging the police and the Home Minister, has been taken into police custody for three days. The investigation team has begun questioning him.

Ayanki, who was lodged at Thalassery Sub Jail, was produced before the Thalassery Chief Judicial Magistrate on Tuesday morning after the Kannur City Cyber Police obtained a production warrant. The police had sought five days’ custody, but Magistrate B Karunakaran granted three days.

During the hearing, defence counsel MK Hasan pointed out that the remand report did not mention details, including the make of the mobile phone seized from Ayanki. He alleged that this could be an attempt to fabricate evidence.

Investigating officer SV Mithun, however, told the court about the phone that had been recovered. According to the investigation team, Ayanki had used an iPhone, but the phone recovered by the police was not an iPhone. Deputy Director of Prosecution K Sreeja appeared for the prosecution.

As he emerged from court, Ayanki told reporters, “I did everything myself.”

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Advocate Deleta Titus told the media that Ayanki was arrested when he arrived at his flat to surrender.

Who is Arjun Ayanki?

Arjun Ayanki, who has openly challenged the police and Home Department, has once again come into the spotlight in Kerala. 

Originally from Kapparikkadavu in Azhikode, Ayanki began his political career as a DYFI unit secretary. He later gained prominence on social media as a CPM cyber warrior. By challenging and threatening political opponents online, Ayanki built a sizeable following on social media.

However, his activities later extended beyond politics, and he emerged as a key figure in a criminal network.

Karipur gold smuggling case

Ayanki first gained notoriety in connection with the Karipur gold smuggling case. He was allegedly associated with gangs involved in intercepting gold smuggled into Kerala from abroad. He is a key accused in the Ramanattukara gold heist case, in which five people were killed.

He also faces cases related to an alleged attempt to kill members of a gold-smuggling gang by ramming them with a vehicle, as well as gold-smuggling cases registered by the Customs Department.