Kochi: A fresh case has been registered against history-sheeter Arjun Ayanki for allegedly defaming the Kerala Chief Minister on social media, as police continued their search for him across the state on Saturday.

The Ernakulam Rural Cyber Police registered the case on Friday night based on a Facebook post allegedly uploaded by Ayanki on August 5.

According to the FIR, Ayanki allegedly published the post with the "intention and deliberate plan" to defame the Chief Minister in public and create enmity and provoke a riot.

The post was uploaded from a Facebook account named "Arjun Ayanki". In it, Ayanki allegedly claimed that former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was better than the incumbent Chief Minister and referred to the latter as a "joker and liar", according to the FIR.

Police alleged that the post was intended to influence the public and provoke public disorder.

The case has been registered under Sections 296(b) and 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. The charges relate to allegedly uttering obscene words in or near a public place, giving provocation with intent to cause a riot, and publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form.

The fresh case comes amid an intensified search for Ayanki, who is wanted in connection with a case involving alleged threats to police officers in Kothamangalam.

Kannur Cyber Police also registered a case against him on Friday over his alleged challenge to State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.

Police detained Ayanki's brother Akhil and two associates on Friday as part of efforts to trace him. On Saturday, five people believed to be close associates of Ayanki were taken into custody in Thiruvananthapuram.

Meanwhile, Chennithala on Saturday dismissed reports that police had been ordered to shoot Ayanki below the knee.

Responding to reporters in Palakkad, Chennithala said police would deal with Ayanki and other alleged goons according to established procedures.

"That is not a big deal. Many people come and go here like rowdies. The police will take care of all that," he said.

Asked about reports that police had been ordered to open fire following a massive human chain held on Friday evening, Chennithala said the police would handle the matter according to their procedures.

"How many goons walk around the area, verbally abusing and threatening people? What should be done about such people? The police have their own methods for dealing with them, and they will do it," he said.

Asked specifically whether any directive had been issued to use firearms against Ayanki, Chennithala said there was no such order.

"No, nothing like that. I don't know about it," he said.

On whether the matter was being formally monitored, the minister said the police had established procedures for dealing with such cases.

"We don't view this as a very serious matter. Someone comes out onto the road and insults people; the police have a procedure for that, and they will follow it," he said.

Who is Arjun Ayanki?

A native of Azhikode in Kannur district, Ayanki first came to public attention in connection with a gold smuggling network operating through Karipur airport in 2021.

The latest case against him stems from a police raid at a resort in Kothamangalam, where Ayanki and a friend were taken into custody on suspicion of assembling for criminal activities.

After being released on bail, Ayanki allegedly posted threatening messages on social media targeting the Kothamangalam Station House Officer who led the raid.

Based on the officer's complaint, police registered a fresh case against him.

The Kerala High Court recently dismissed Ayanki's anticipatory bail plea. Police alleged that, following the dismissal of his bail plea, he continued to threaten police officers by sending voice messages through social media platforms.

(pti)