Photographs and videos of an accused in a MDMA case with Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan have triggered a political slugfest between the CPM and Congress.

The visuals of K H Muhammad Hussain, one of three men arrested with MDMA in Kasaragod, have become the focus of a political dispute after the CPM-led opposition camp alleged that he had close links with Satheesan.

Hussain's social media profile reportedly describes him as Satheesan's social media coordinator when Satheesan was the Leader of the Opposition. The profile also reportedly identifies him as an administrator of a social media group called "Leader V D Satheesan".

The allegations and counter-allegations come against the backdrop of an ongoing narcotics investigation in which Hussain and two others were arrested with 139.29 grams of MDMA.

Visuals show Hussain with Satheesan

Several photographs and videos showing Hussain with Satheesan have surfaced on social media and in news reports.

Some of the visuals show Hussain standing alongside Satheesan at different events. Other photographs reportedly show Satheesan attending Hussain's housewarming ceremony.

Hussain was also reportedly among the organisers of a programme held in Perumbavoor in connection with Operation Toofan, which was attended by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.

A Facebook post by Hussain expressing support for Operation Toofan is also being cited in the political dispute.

The CPM has questioned the nature of Hussain's association with Satheesan and how much the current Chief Minister knew about his activities.

CPM alleges close links

CPM MLA V K Sanoj alleged that Hussain had claimed to be Satheesan's social media coordinator during the period when Satheesan was Leader of the Opposition.

Sanoj also claimed that Hussain was an administrator of the "Leader V D Satheesan" social media group and that photographs and videos of the accused with Satheesan were available.

The CPM MLA questioned how Satheesan could have been unaware of the activities of someone who had claimed to work closely with him and was allegedly involved in drug trafficking in several districts before his arrest.

Sanoj also alleged that another accused had shared photographs of himself sitting inside the Chief Minister's office.

He questioned whether the arrested men had any connection with attempts to disrupt Operation Toofan.

"This should not be treated as a mere drug case. Instead, the network of the drug mafia being controlled by the CM's office should be brought out," Sanoj contended.

Three arrested with 139.29 grams of MDMA

The political controversy centres on the arrest of three men at Kaalikkadavu on Sunday.

The arrested men are P A Abdul Salam, 27, K H Muhammad Hussain, 28, and P A Abbas, 50, all from Arakkappady in Perumbavoor.

Police seized 139.29 grams of MDMA from the group.

Police suspect that the three were links in a network transporting MDMA from Bengaluru to Ernakulam. They are also suspected of involvement in the wholesale distribution of the drug.

The arrests followed confidential information received by the district police chief. A DANSAF special squad was conducting a vehicle inspection when it intercepted the group near the district border.

The three had travelled from Perumbavoor to Kasaragod in a Swift car carrying the drug.

The group and the vehicle were handed over to the Chanthera police. A search conducted by Chanthera sub-inspector Manu P Cheriyan and his team found the MDMA in four packets.

Police said the total quantity found on the accused and inside the car's dashboard was 139.29 grams.

The three were booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and produced before court. They were subsequently remanded.

Police had also arrested another alleged key link in the network.

Based on information obtained from those arrested earlier, Perumbavoor resident Zainul Abideen, 43, was arrested by Perumbavoor police and handed over to the Chanthera police.

Chanthera inspector M V Sheeju recorded his arrest under the NDPS Act. He was produced before the Hosdurg First Class Magistrate Court-I and remanded.

Police have received information that Abideen is the brother of a local leader of a prominent ruling party.

Congress rejects CPM allegations

The Congress has rejected the CPM's allegations.

State Sports Minister O J Janeesh said the person shown in the photographs being circulated on social media and in news reports was not an office-bearer or leader of the Youth Congress, as claimed by some.

Janeesh said that if any Youth Congress worker, member or leader was found to have any connection with drug trafficking, the person would no longer remain part of the organisation.

"We will not protect them as the DYFI did in the past by using the state machinery," he contended while speaking to reporters.

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) is the youth wing of the CPM.

Minister attacks previous Left government

Janeesh also turned the attack on the previous Left government, alleging that it failed to take sustained action against drug trafficking in Kerala.

He alleged that during nine of the Left government's 10 years in power, drug trafficking was allowed to grow in the state without adequate government intervention.

The minister claimed that the youngsters being arrested in drug cases now were victims of the previous government's alleged failure to intervene.

He further alleged that previous governments had focused on arresting drug users or addicts rather than those transporting narcotics.

"It is only now, under Operation Toofan, that drug carriers, including some teachers, were arrested. These teachers were carrying out drug sales even back then," he contended.

The photographs and videos have now become the centre of a political confrontation, with the CPM questioning the accused's past association with Satheesan and the Congress rejecting the allegations while attacking the previous Left government's record on drug trafficking.