Published Aug 29, 2026 | 10:19 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 29, 2026 | 10:48 AM
When CM Satheesan was stopped by his own party men.
Police have registered a case against District Congress Committee member Chenthi Anil and others in connection with an alleged incident of misbehaviour involving Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan at Chenthi in Thiruvananthapuram.
Anil, who is also the patron of the Chenthi Sree Narayana Cultural Centre Charitable Society, was taken into custody late Friday night and was formally arrested on Saturday, police said.
The case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation and using assault or criminal force to obstruct a public servant in the discharge of duty.
The FIR also mentions other persons who have been identified in connection with the incident.
The incident occurred when Satheesan was on his way to attend a Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti programme at Chempazhanthy.
A group led by Anil reportedly stopped the Chief Minister’s vehicle.
According to the police, members of the group allegedly used abusive language against Satheesan after he did not attend the Chenthi programme.
The Chief Minister’s security personnel subsequently intervened and pushed the protesters away from the vehicle.
A controversy has also erupted over allegations that the CM’s security personnel shoved senior Congress leader and former MP N Peethambara Kurup, who was among the group when the CM’s convoy was stopped.
The Chenthi programme was reportedly not included in the Chief Minister’s official schedule.
Police registered the case after recording the statement of a Grade SI who was present at the venue.
The move followed a direction from the City Police Commissioner after the incident triggered controversy.
The organisers later abandoned the public meeting to lodge their protest against Satheesan not inaugurating the programme.
Anil, however, disputed the allegations.
He said Satheesan had assured him that he would attend the programme and that arrangements, including security, had been made based on instructions from police officials.
He said the organisers were unaware of why the Chief Minister did not attend the function and that activists had stopped the vehicle only because they were eager to participate in the Chief Minister’s programme.
Anil also alleged that the Chief Minister’s conduct had upset the organisers, prompting them to abandon the public meeting.
It’s learnt that the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has ordered the suspension of Chenthi Anil following the controversy.
The KPCC leadership has directed the Thiruvananthapuram DCC president N Sakthan to initiate action against Anil.
Meanwhile, Anil alleged that the action against him was politically motivated.
He said he had become a victim of factionalism within the Congress and that group rivalry was behind the proceedings against him.
Anil also claimed that his arrest was linked to a dispute between rival groups within the party.
Also Read:
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar.)
