Kannur (Kerala) | History-sheeter Arjun Ayanki, who was on the run after allegedly threatening police officers and challenging Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, was arrested here on Sunday, officials said.

Reacting to the arrest, Minister Chennithala said that no goonda activities will be permitted in Kerala.

Kannur City Police Commissioner BV Vijaya Bharath Reddy told reporters that Ayanki was arrested from Kannur town itself following a long chase that continued into the midnight.

"It was a combined effort by the entire state police under the leadership of ADGP P Vijayan. We were in search of him since Saturday morning," he said.

Police sources said he was taken into custody when he reached a lawyer's apartment at around 2.30 am.

Following a tip-off about his presence in Kannur city, police carried out searches since Saturday morning.

After being taken into custody, Ayanki was shifted to Kannur Town Police Station, police said.

Later, he was taken to Kannur Cyber Police Station.

Police recorded the arrest in the case related to challenging Minister Ramesh Chennithala on social media, registered in Kannur.

Ernakulam Rural police probing cases for threatening officers of Kothamangalam and Oonnukal stations reached Kannur and interrogated him.

He was produced before the Koothuparamba Judicial First Class Magistrate Court and remanded to judicial custody.

Ayanki’s close associates who helped him evade arrest were handed over to Ernakulam Rural Police station for taking further legal steps.

According to police, there are 23 cases against Ayanki.

He was recently booked for allegedly challenging Minister Chennithala and defaming Chief Minister VD Satheesan on social media platforms.

When reporters approached Ayanki, he asked, "Could the fishermen missing be traced?"

Police had been searching for Ayanki for the past three days across Kerala, with several persons, including his brother, taken into custody as part of the probe.

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 search at a resort in Kothamangalam, where he and friends 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 search.

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

In another case, the Kerala High Court recently dismissed Ayanki's anticipatory bail plea.

Reacting to the arrest of Ayanki, Chennithala said Kerala is not a land of gangsters but of peace-loving people and asserted that no one was above the law.

"Any gangster who challenges the public will have no place in Kerala. This is not a land of gangsters; it is a land of people who desire peace,” he said.

Chennithala said the government was committed to reining in all gangsters in the state and ensuring a peaceful life for the people.

“If notorious gangsters and anti-social elements attempt to disrupt the peaceful lives of the people, strict action will be taken. There will be zero compromise on that,” he said.

Asked whether Ayanki had received political protection, Chennithala said such protection would not prevent the law from taking its course.

“No matter what protection they receive, such people will be brought before the law. Have no doubt about that,” he said.

Chennithala said no one would be allowed to challenge the law and maintained that political protection was not an issue in the case.

“The former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself disowned Arjun Ayanki. CPI(M) leader M V Jayarajan disowned him. It has been proven that no one stands with him. Then why should that be investigated?” he asked.

Chennithala also announced a Rs one lakh reward to an auto rickshaw driver who tipped off police about Ayanki’s presence in Kannur.

He said that a well-wisher contacted him and expressed interest in rewarding the person whose information led to the arrest.

ADGP P Vijayan said that police were not bothered about Ayanki challenging the department.

“Challenging the police is just his perception. Once it was clear that Ayanki had grown beyond a limit, the police took all legal measures to trap him. The conclusion to that happened in the early morning,” he said.

Vijayan rejected the suggestion that Ayanki had acquired an aura by repeatedly challenging the police and remaining in the news.

"If someone finds joy in challenging the police, they are finding joy in challenging society. We are also pursuing those who find joy in such challenges, as well as those who liked and commented on the post," he said.

The ADGP said the police had a clear directive from Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala to arrest Ayanki while ensuring that no human rights violations or illegal methods were used.

Asked whether there had been any decision to shoot Ayanki, Vijayan said there was no such decision. "None of that was the decision of the Kerala Police," he said.