Thiruvananthapuram: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced that an individual will hand over a reward of ₹1 lakh to the auto-rickshaw driver from Payyannur who assisted police in apprehending criminal accused Arjun Ayanki.

The Minister stated that a public-spirited citizen contacted him via phone offering to provide the amount, which will be handed over directly to the driver.

The Minister pointed out that although the police had received numerous leads regarding Ayanki, the information provided by the auto-rickshaw driver proved to be the most effective in tracing him. Commending the driver from Payyannur, the Minister praised his proactive gesture as exemplary.

Elusive Arjun Ayanki had travelled to meet his lawyer in an auto-rickshaw owned by the Payyannur resident. Growing suspicious of his passenger, the driver alerted the police, following which officers launched a search that resulted in Ayanki's arrest.