Arjun Ayanki arrested in Kannur after days long police search

Arjun Ayanki, a key accused in several criminal cases, was arrested by the police in Kannur after more than two days of intensive search. He was reportedly taken into custody on Sunday (August 9, 2026) from an apartment in Kannur city, where he had been staying in hiding.

The arrest was made by a police team led by the Northern Range Deputy Inspector General. Ayanki allegedly attempted to flee when the police reached the apartment and was apprehended at around 2.30 a.m. Another person believed to be his friend was also present at the apartment. He was arrested based on a tip off from an auto driver.

The police had intensified the search after Ayanki allegedly threatened police officers through social media following his release on bail. The Kerala High Court had rejected his anticipatory bail in the case.

Ayanki and his associates had earlier been taken into custody on suspicion of assembling near Kothamangalam for criminal activities. After securing bail, Ayanki allegedly posted threatening and abusive messages targeting the Kothamangalam inspector who led the raid and the Oonnukal Station House Officer through social media platforms.

Despite the rejection of his anticipatory bail plea, Ayanki allegedly continued to remain in hiding while challenging and threatening police officers through social media, prompting the police to intensify efforts to locate him.

After his arrest, he was brought to Kannur District Hospital for medical examination and taken back to Kannur Town station. He is likely to be shifted to Ernakulam after formally registering his arrest in Kannur. Further action is expected to be taken on the direction of the Additional Director General of Police in charge of law and order.

Ayanki, a native of Kappakkadavu in Azhikode, began his political activities as a DYFI unit secretary and later became prominent on social media as a CPI(M) cyber activist. He gained a substantial following by aggressively targeting political opponents online.

His name, however, later became associated with organised criminal activities. He gained notoriety in connection with the Karipur gold smuggling case and was allegedly involved in gangs that intercepted and robbed smuggled gold being transported from airports.

He is also a key accused in the Ramnattukara gold smuggling-related incident in which five people were killed.

Cases relating to an alleged attempt to run over members of a gold smuggling gang with a vehicle, besides cases registered by the Customs Department in connection with gold smuggling, are also pending against him.

Following the emergence of his alleged criminal links, the DYFI expelled Ayanki from the organisation. CPI(M) leadership has repeatedly maintained that the party has no association with cyber or quotation gangs.