The legislator, embroiled in the Nilambur Forest Office attack case, was granted bail under stringent conditions, bringing temporary relief amid the storm of controversies.
Published Jan 07, 2025 | 11:20 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 07, 2025 | 11:20 AM
PV Anvar MLA. (Facebook)
A tense night of high drama, political speculation, and strict law enforcement ended as Nilambur MLA PV Anvar walked out of Tavanur Central Jail in Kerala on Monday, 6 January, after 18 hours of imprisonment.
The legislator, embroiled in the Nilambur Forest Office attack case, was granted bail under stringent conditions, bringing temporary relief amid the storm of controversies.
Anvar’s release was secured after the court imposed a ₹35,000 bond and demanded two sureties. He is also required to report to the investigating officer every Wednesday as part of the bail conditions.
The scene outside the jail was charged with anticipation as DMK workers began gathering hours earlier, preparing to receive their leader. At around 7.45 pm, Democratic Movement of Kerala (DMK) State Coordinator VS Manoj Kumar arrived with the necessary bond papers, setting off a chain of formalities that culminated in Anvar’s release.
DMK was formed by Anvar in October last year after he withdrew his support for the ruling LDF in the state.
The gates finally opened, and Anvar emerged to cheers and slogans from party workers who celebrated his release with a warm welcome.
Anvar, upon his release from jail, expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stood by him during his ordeal. He reaffirmed his trust in the Indian judicial system and thanked Congress leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President VD Satheesan, for their unwavering support.
Anvar emphasised that the struggle ahead would not be a solitary endeavour but a united movement. He expressed optimism about the encouraging responses from UDF leaders and vowed to strengthen protests against the forest amendment law.
“I am also thankful to Muslim League leaders such as Panakkad Thangal and PK Kunhalikutty, as well as Congress leaders K Sudhakaran, VD Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala, for their support,” he said.
He also revealed plans to seek the backing of Christian priests and declared his readiness to collaborate with anyone willing to join the organised fight against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Shortly after his arrest, Anvar accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of orchestrating the move against him. “This is all happening as per Pinarayi’s wishes. It’s a staged drama aimed at spreading fear, portraying me as some kind of gang leader. This entire episode is an ultimate display of state terrorism.” he said.
G Gopakumar, a prominent political scientist and psephologist, believes that the impact of recent developments will not last.
Speaking to South First, he stated, “The short-term wave created by PV Anvar MLA, won’t endure. While the UDF may show some support now, they are unlikely to entertain Anvar’s entry. Without his support, the UDF can easily secure the Nilambur constituency, a Muslim League stronghold.”
“The UDF is also working to bring Kerala Congress (M) back into the fold, making Jose K Mani the safer choice compared to Anvar. In my view, this arrest was necessary, as the government must address such actions swiftly and decisively,” he added.
When asked why Anvar can’t survive independently in Kerala like actor Vijay in Tamil Nadu, he explained that unless part of a larger alliance, no one could thrive in Kerala. “Even K Karunakaran faced setbacks,” Gopakumar said.
He observed that the political landscapes of Kerala and Tamil Nadu could not be compared.
“Since 1967, national parties have not had a significant presence in Tamil politics, where subregionalism is incredibly strong. Additionally, Tamil people have a tradition of supporting charismatic leaders, which is why movements led by Vaiko and even film stars gained acceptance,” he said.
“In contrast, Kerala lacks a leader with the charisma necessary to lead a strong movement,” he added.
“In Tamil Nadu, subregionalism, caste issues, and reservation matters dominate the political discourse. However, these factors don’t work in Kerala’s political environment,” Gopakumar said.
Efforts by the Nair Service Society’s (NSS) NDP, the Ezhava’s SRP, and the Dheevara Party to carve out political space have failed. In Kerala, the two principal fronts remain dominant, with the possibility of a third alliance, namely the BJP. Even the BJP, which has been trying for the past 40 years, only recently achieved a significant vote share of 20 percent.
They had only two percent of the vote in 1980, and six percent in 1987. Over time, the untouchability towards the BJP has diminished. Therefore, it’s hard to see how a leader like Anvar could make an impact.
“His decision was a blunder, and he lacked a strong cause or clear target for his movement,” Gopakumar said.
Many legal professionals view the arrest of Anvar as a significant precedent in addressing the issue of vandalism of public property. Babila Ummarkhan, a Supreme Court advocate based in Delhi, explained to South First that the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984 is designed to prevent damage to public property.
Under this law, causing harm to public property can lead to imprisonment for up to five years, along with a fine. For certain critical public properties— such as those related to water, power, or transportation — the punishment can be between six months and five years in prison.
In 2007, the Supreme Court formed a committee to assess the effectiveness of the PDPP Act. The committee concluded that the law, in its existing form, was insufficient and recommended amendments to strengthen it.
Anvar’s arrest, according to Ummarkhan, set a positive example. She pointed out that, while protests are common, there has been a troubling normalisation of vandalism, even during student protests. She emphasised that this mindset needs to be changed and that attacking a forest office should be treated with the same seriousness as attacking a police station.
Immediately following the arrest of Anvar, senior Congress leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala, Sudhakaran and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, condemned the action and expressed strong support for him.
However, Satheesan responded hours later to the midnight arrest, calling it a politically motivated act of vengeance by the CPI(M), orchestrated at higher levels. Addressing the media on Monday, Satheesan stated that when an elephant tramples a person in an MLA’s constituency, the representative should stand with the people.
When South First contacted Anvar’s close associate, he voiced strong opposition to the arrest and questioned why the issue had been ignored.
“Forest Minister AK Saseendran is in Nilambur (on Monday) at the guest house. Why didn’t he visit the home of the man who was killed by the wild elephant? Is this communism?” he asked.
Advocate Ummarkhan shared a similar perspective, telling South First, “While the arrest of PV Anvar MLA may have political motives, what about Mani (the tribal man) and the issue the MLA raised? Many are now saying that the incident occurred in the forest, attempting to normalise it.”
The forest is home to the tribe. Where else could he go? Also, what is the distance between the deep forest and the site of the incident? These factors need to be considered. Paying a lump sum after losing a life is not something called, Justice.” she said.
Meanwhile, Saseendran visited Mani’s family on Monday and handed over the first tranche of the financial aid announced by the state government.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
