Police have detained the brother of elusive smuggler Arjun Ayanki after Ayanki was spotted switching vehicles and driving through the Panniyankara toll plaza toward Thrissur.

Thrissur: History-sheeter Arjun Ayanki, who has been evading police, was spotted arriving in Thrissur after defying police tracking efforts. CCTV footage released from the Panniyankara toll plaza shows Ayanki driving a car as he passed through the toll gate situated between Thrissur and Palakkad. In connection with the ongoing search, police have taken Ayanki's brother into custody along with the vehicle used during the journey.
Investigating officers confirmed Ayanki's movement following a detailed inspection of surveillance footage. While authorities received precise intelligence that the vehicle reached Thrissur city, it remains unconfirmed whether Ayanki himself was inside the car when it entered the city limits.
The Panniyankara toll plaza CCTV footage distinctly shows Arjun Ayanki behind the wheel with another individual seated alongside him. Police revealed that Ayanki has been constantly changing vehicles during his transit, with reports confirming he switched cars at least twice to throw off trackers.
Investigators suspect the movement toward Thrissur city may have been a deliberate diversion. Police theorise that by sending a team, including his brother into Thrissur, Ayanki aimed to draw police resources to the city center while he escaped through a different route. Authorities are currently interrogating Ayanki's brother to gather further leads, following the earlier detention of two of Ayanki's associates from Muvattupuzha.
Published: 07 Aug 2026, 08:55 pm IST
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