Thiruvananthapuram: Congress leader arrested for reportedly blocking V.D. Satheesan’s convoy

A Congress leader was arrested for allegedly blocking Chief Minister V D Satheesan's convoy while he was on his way to attend a function at Chenthi here, police said on Saturday. 

Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee (DCC) leader Anil Kumar alias Chenthi Ani was arrested after a case was registered against him and others for allegedly blocking Satheesan's convoy on its way to Chempazhanthy to attend an event marking the birth anniversary of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru on Friday evening.

On the way, a group of people organising another Sree Narayana Guru event at Chenthi signalled the chief minister’s vehicle to stop, police said.

Satheesan stepped out of the vehicle following their request and was seen in television visuals arguing with Congress leader Ani.

After spending a few minutes at the spot, Satheesan returned to his vehicle and left, police said.

Police said no event at Chenthi was listed in the chief minister’s schedule.

Following the incident, organisers, including Congress workers, released a photograph of themselves meeting the chief minister a few months back at the Secretariat to invite him to the event at Chenthi.

They also told reporters that the police had visited the venue on Thursday and suggested the number of people allowed to sit on the stage.

Late on Friday night, Ani was taken into custody and shifted to Sreekaryam police station, where the case was registered.

Later, his arrest was recorded after the interrogation.

The case was registered under Sections 126(2), 351(2) and 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation and assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty, respectively.

According to the FIR, at around 5.55 pm, the chief minister's vehicle stopped after he saw senior Congress leaders assembled at Chenthi and interacted with them.

"The accused allegedly confronted the chief minister in an aggressive manner and loudly questioned him as to why he was not attending the event despite it being an accepted programme. When asked to refrain from being aggressive, the accused allegedly threatened, What will you do if I get angry?, thereby publicly insulting the CM and obstructing the official duties of police personnel accompanying the convoy," the FIR said.

The case was registered based on the statement of an officer who was on route-clearing duty in the area.

Police said Ani would be produced before a court as part of the remand procedure.

The role of the other persons is being probed based on videos taken at the time, officials said.

Meanwhile, DCC is collecting details of the incident, as several Congress workers who were assembled for the Chenthi event expressed concerns about the chief minister skipping the programme and Ani's arrest, party sources said.

On the other hand, when Ani was taken to hospital for a medical examination, he alleged that his arrest was part of group politics within the Congress.

"It is part of the party’s group politics. Groupism is the problem," he said, but declined to respond to reporters’ questions about CM Satheesan.

Ani’s arrest also triggered discontent among some district-level Congress leaders.

DCC member Suhail Shajahan expressed his protest against the arrest after meeting Ani at the Sreekaryam police station.

"Regardless of which group or faction they belong to, as a person, I am personally saddened to see a Congress worker like Ani, who risked his life for the party and worked tirelessly for it, get arrested in this manner," he told reporters.

Shajahan said the Congress was a democratic party and everyone in it had the right to express their concerns.

He said he did not see Ani behaving disrespectfully towards the chief minister.

"Yesterday, when I contacted the Chief Minister’s office, I learned that the CM himself had instructed that a case should not be filed. So, it is unclear whose interest is being served by filing a case, arresting him and trying to put him in jail," he said.

He said it was for the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to decide on any disciplinary action against Ani.

Shajahan also denied that Ani and his supporters had blocked Satheesan’s vehicle.

"No vehicles were blocked. They came to welcome the chief minister. Thousands of workers were there, including women. Everyone was left disappointed," he said.

Shajahan alleged that senior Congress leader Peethambara Kurup, who was present at the spot, was pulled away by police.

"It can be seen in the visuals. So, as a colleague, Ani might have reacted to that. There was no situation here warranting an arrest and putting someone in jail, especially during this Onam season," he said.