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Congress Leader Anil Kumar ‘Chenthi Ani’ Arrested After Confronting Kerala CM’s Convoy

A Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee leader was taken into custody for allegedly blocking Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan’s convoy and confronting him at Chenthi. The party expelled the activist and police filed charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

By Akshara ·

What happened

A Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee leader was taken into custody for allegedly blocking Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan’s convoy and confronting him at Chenthi. The party expelled the activist and police filed charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Congress leader Anil Kumar ‘Chenthi Ani’ was arrested for confronting Kerala’s chief minister and blocking his convoy, prompting party expulsion and criminal charges.

TL;DR

Congress leader Anil Kumar ‘Chenthi Ani’ was arrested for confronting Kerala’s chief minister and blocking his convoy, prompting party expulsion and criminal charges.

Key points

Thiruvananthapuram – On Friday evening, Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan was travelling to Chempazhanthy to attend a ceremony marking the birth anniversary of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. While en route, a group organising a separate Sree Narayana Guru event at Chenthi signalled the CM’s vehicle to stop. According to police, the convoy halted at around 5:55 p.m. after senior Congress leaders gathered at the venue.

Satheesan stepped out of his vehicle and was seen on television footage arguing with Anil Kumar, a Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee (DCC) leader known as “Chenthi Ani.” The confrontation lasted a few minutes before the chief minister returned to his car and continued his journey. Police confirmed that the Chenthi event was not listed in the CM’s official schedule.

Following the incident, the police registered a case under Sections 126(2), 351(2) and 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation and assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty. The FIR states that Ani “aggressively questioned” the chief minister for not attending the event and threatened, “What will you do if I get angry?” thereby insulting the CM and obstructing police duties.

Ani, who is listed in the Rowdy History Sheet (RHS) of Sreekaryam police station and has six criminal cases pending against him, was taken into custody late Friday night and shifted to Sreekaryam police station. After a medical examination, he alleged that his arrest was “part of the party’s group politics,” refusing to comment further on the chief minister. He was later produced before a Judicial First Class Magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) acted swiftly. President Sunny Joseph announced that Ani had been expelled from the party and emphasized that disciplinary action complemented the police investigation. Joseph said the chief minister had informed him that organisers of the Chenthi event had been told he would not attend, describing the incident as “a wrong action” that warranted legal action.

The arrest sparked dissent within the district Congress ranks. DCC member Suhail Shajahan, after meeting Ani at the police station, expressed sorrow over the detention, calling Ani “a Congress worker who risked his life for the party.” Shajahan argued that the incident did not merit an arrest, especially during the Onam season, and alleged that senior Congress leader Peethambara Kurup, present at the scene, was pulled away by police.

The case remains under investigation, with officials reviewing video footage to determine the role of other participants. The incident highlights internal factionalism within the Kerala Congress and raises questions about protocol when political leaders seek to influence official schedules.