Former Kerala Health Minister Veena George faces deepening legal and political jeopardy after her personal gunman told the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that he fabricated a statement alleging an armed attack against her — and did so on her direct instructions. The disclosure, emerging on 20 October 2026 in Thiruvananthapuram, has upended the foundational basis of a case that had already sent several young activists to jail.

What the Gunman Told the SIT

Gunman Abhilash has told investigators that he did not witness Kerala Students Union (KSU) activists attacking Veena George at Kannur railway station. He has reportedly stated that his earlier testimony to the Railway Police — which alleged an armed assault — was given at the instruction of the then minister. That original statement had formed the legal basis for imposing serious charges, including attempt to murder, against the arrested KSU activists, who subsequently spent time in custody before securing bail.

The Kannur Incident and the Questions It Raised

The episode dates to the closing months of the second Pinarayi Vijayan government. Veena had alleged she was injured in an attack at Kannur railway station. However, questions arose almost immediately: she was discharged from a government hospital near Kannur within two days and reportedly travelled onward by road, casting doubt on the severity of the alleged injuries. The episode triggered widespread public scepticism, with critics arguing that the circumstances of the attack and the speed of the subsequent police action did not add up.

Political Fallout for Veena George

The latest revelation compounds an already difficult period for the former minister. Veena had contested the Aranmula constituency seat seeking a third consecutive Assembly victory but lost. Though she retains an invitee status on the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) state committee, her political standing within the party has reportedly diminished considerably. Her trajectory had been remarkable: in 2016, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan picked her directly from a television newsroom and fielded her as the CPI(M) candidate in Aranmula. She won her debut contest, retained the seat in 2021, and was elevated to the Health Ministry — a posting that bypassed several veteran party figures. Her tenure as health minister, however, became a subject of internal debate towards the end, and the Kannur episode had already eroded her public standing before this latest development.

What This Means for the Arrested Activists

The SIT's fresh disclosures carry direct consequences for the KSU activists who faced the most serious charges in the case. Having already served time in jail before bail was granted, they now stand to benefit from a potentially significant recasting of the prosecution's narrative. Legal observers note that if Abhilash's retraction holds under judicial scrutiny, the attempt-to-murder charges could face severe challenges. Notably, this is not the first instance in Indian politics where personal security staff have surfaced as key witnesses in cases involving their principals — but a retraction of this nature, implicating the protected party herself, is unusual.

What Happens Next

The SIT is expected to record further statements as part of its ongoing probe. The political implications for the CPI(M) are also being closely watched, given that the alleged instruction, if substantiated, would point to an abuse of ministerial authority during the previous government's tenure. All eyes are now on whether the SIT forwards its findings to a court and how Veena responds formally to the gunman's revised account.