Kannur: The challenge is over. Arjun Ayanki, who had been on the run for days while openly challenging the government and police to catch him, was finally arrested by the police in Kannur early on Sunday.

Ayanki was taken into custody at around 2am from an apartment belonging to a lawyer in the city. Police had been searching for him across the state for the past few days.

The breakthrough came after police followed a series of clues. Acting on a tip that Ayanki was in Thrissur, officers conducted a search there. However, a detailed examination of CCTV footage eventually confirmed that he was in Kannur.

Police had also taken into custody the car in which Ayanki had been travelling at Valapattanam. This helped investigators establish that he was in the Kannur area.

Ayanki had arrived to meet a lawyer in an autorickshaw. The autorickshaw driver, who became suspicious of his passenger, alerted the police. His presence was subsequently confirmed through CCTV footage. Police surrounded the apartment in the early hours of Sunday and took him into custody.

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According to the City Police Commissioner, Ayanki attempted to flee after seeing the police but was overpowered.

Ayanki first came to prominence in connection with the Ramnattukara gold smuggling case. He was subsequently implicated in several criminal cases. While on the run, he also used social media to challenge the Home Department to catch him, prompting authorities to intensify the search.

Even as he was being taken into custody and transported in a police vehicle, Ayanki continued to mock the police. He reportedly asked sarcastically, “Have the missing people at sea been found?”

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The remark referred to an earlier social media post in which Ayanki had claimed that, had he been on the ship carrying those who went missing at sea, the police would have caught him much earlier. He had added that, in such a situation, their families would have received justice.

The CPM distanced itself from Ayanki a day before his arrest. Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM leader M.V. Jayarajan said there was no need to justify individuals such as Ayanki.

A fresh case has also been registered against Ayanki for allegedly taking part in an unlawful assembly in Kothamangalam. He was subsequently denied bail and remanded in custody. Another case was registered after he allegedly posted threats against the SHO on social media.

In addition, a case has been filed based on a complaint lodged by Kannur DCC president Martin George, alleging that Ayanki challenged the Home Department and the minister.