BJP councillor R. Sugathan of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation was shifted to Central Jail on 10 June after a dramatic late-night arrest at his residence in Vazhoottukonam, making him the first sitting councillor in Kerala to be detained under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA). The arrest, carried out by Vattiyoorkavu Police, has triggered a sharp political confrontation between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the state police establishment.

Mayor Alleges Police Excess

Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Mayor V.V. Rajesh on Wednesday declared that the BJP would challenge the case both politically and legally. He alleged that the police deliberately escalated tensions during the arrest operation. 'The police created unnecessary tension at his house. There was no need for such a situation. The police official fired in the air only to create a scene. The police did not give any briefing regarding the KAAPA case,' Rajesh said.

The Mayor's remarks signal that the BJP intends to pursue this on two fronts — in the courts and in the public arena — framing the arrest as an instance of political targeting rather than routine law enforcement.

What Led to the Arrest

The underlying case against Sugathan involves an alleged attempt to murder arising from a dispute during a temple festival two months ago. The District Collector had ordered his preventive detention under KAAPA. Sugathan subsequently approached the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail, but the court rejected his plea and directed him to appear before the investigating officer by 7 June. He failed to comply and remained unavailable, prompting police to act on intelligence that he had returned home.

Dramatic Scenes at the Residence

Police, led by Vattiyoorkavu Circle Inspector Vipin, reached the councillor's house after receiving information about his return. Supporters had gathered outside and surrounded the police team, preventing them from leaving with Sugathan. CI Vipin subsequently fired into the air to disperse the crowd. Police allege that Sugathan and his brother attacked CI Vipin and Sub-Inspector Abhijith during the operation, and both officers sustained injuries. A fresh case has been registered against Sugathan for allegedly assaulting police personnel.

Conflicting Accounts From Both Sides

Sugathan rejected the assault allegations, stating he was undergoing treatment for chickenpox and was not absconding. He alleged that police entered his home without a female officer and assaulted his wife and son. His wife, Aswathy, corroborated this, claiming officers assaulted Sugathan, frightened the children, and created panic inside the house. She alleged their eight-year-old child was pushed away while crying.

Police denied these counter-allegations, maintaining that force was used only after the councillor and his brother physically attacked the officers, and that the aerial firing was a measure of self-defence to control the situation.

Political and Legal Fallout

The detention of a sitting councillor under KAAPA — a law typically invoked against habitual offenders and those deemed a threat to public order — is itself significant. This is the first such instance in Kerala involving an elected local body representative. The BJP has framed the action as an abuse of preventive detention law against an opposition functionary, while the police maintain the arrest followed due process after Sugathan defied a High Court directive. The case is expected to return to court in the coming days.