Strong protests erupted in Kozhikode on Saturday after the Chevayoor police took senior Congress leader N Subrahmanian into custody. The arrest was made in connection with a social media post that featured an image, purportedly generated using artificial intelligence, showing the main accused in the Sabarimala gold smuggling case, Unnikrishnan Potti, alongside Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Dramatic Arrest and Swift Political Backlash
N Subrahmanian, a key member of the KPCC political affairs committee, was taken from his home early in the morning. The police action triggered an immediate and fierce reaction from the United Democratic Front (UDF). Workers from the Youth Congress and the Congress party, led by KPCC general secretary P M Niyas, gathered outside the police station in a show of defiance. The station premises echoed with the sounds of the protest, including chants of the parody song ‘Pottiye Kettiye'.
The Congress leader was released around noon, but not before he leveled serious allegations against the state police. Speaking to reporters, Subrahmanian claimed that the Kerala Police had transformed into a tool to execute the agenda of the AKG Centre, the CPI(M) headquarters. He pointed out a perceived inconsistency in the police's approach, alleging that no case or arrest was made against BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who had shared a similar image online.
Allegations of Political Vendetta and Selective Action
Subrahmanian described his arrest as a dramatic event, stating he was taken into custody at 6 am, denying him time for breakfast. He insisted that the inspector was acting on specific instructions from higher authorities and boldly declared that he would not remove the controversial images from his Facebook post.
His criticism extended to the state government's handling of the Sabarimala gold theft case itself. The Congress leader slammed the administration for not taking decisive action against those from the ruling CPM allegedly involved in the smuggling scandal, while focusing its energy on social media posts. DCC president K Praveen Kumar, who arrived at the station, condemned the police's "dramatic action" on a case registered under bailable sections, calling it unsuitable for a democracy. He questioned whether there were now restrictions on speaking against the chief minister and suggested the move was an attempt to divert public attention on a day when the Left front was facing significant losses in local panchayat elections.
Police Justify Action, Cite Medical Check-Up
Meanwhile, police sources provided a different perspective on the events. They stated that the action was necessary because the Congress leader had failed to appear for questioning after being summoned, which forced them to take him into custody to record his statement. As per procedure, Subrahmanian was taken to a private hospital in Vellimadukunnu for a mandatory medical examination before being brought to the station.
Due to a slight variation in his blood pressure readings, he was kept under medical observation at the hospital for a short period. During this time, Muslim League leader K M Shaji and Youth Congress leader K M Abhijith visited him. Reports indicate that Subrahmanian had posted two images on social media, one of which was later removed. The police are currently working to verify the authenticity of both the deleted and the still-existing images, amid allegations that at least one was AI-generated. The First Information Report (FIR) alleges that the image was shared with the intent to incite political hatred and create unrest between different groups.
Subrahmanian has been instructed to appear for formal questioning on Monday. The incident has intensified the political rivalry in Kerala, setting the stage for further confrontation between the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF.
