The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala is facing intense criticism following the late-night arrest of Marunadan Malayali editor and journalist Shajan Skariah on Monday.
The arrest, carried out by the Thiruvananthapuram cyber police, has sparked outrage among media organisations, political leaders and civil rights groups, who have labelled it a violation of press freedom and human dignity.
Skariah was taken into custody from his residence in Kudappanakunnu, Thiruvananthapuram, at around 10:25 pm, in connection with a defamation case filed by a woman from Mahe.
The complainant alleged that a video uploaded on the Marunadan Malayali YouTube channel contained sexually explicit content and defamatory remarks that affected her personal life.
He was charged under Section 790 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Kerala Police Act.
Speaking to reporters during the arrest, Skariah claimed the action was politically motivated and accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of orchestrating a vendetta against him. He also alleged that the police neither informed him of the charges nor allowed him to dress properly before being taken into custody.
“This is revenge for the reports I’ve done on the Chief Minister and his daughter,” Skariah said, describing the arrest as an act of intimidation.
Skariah was produced before the Vanjiyoor Magistrate later that night. His lawyer, Advocate Shyam Shekhar, argued that the arrest lacked legal merit and that custodial interrogation was unnecessary, as Skariah is a law-abiding citizen. The magistrate, citing procedural lapses, granted him bail with strict conditions, including two sureties.
Following his release, Skariah alleged that the arrest was part of a calculated campaign driven by the Chief Minister’s office, with possible involvement of senior police officials. The incident has embarrassed the state’s Home Department, which is already facing mounting accusations of politically motivated law enforcement.
Condemnation was swift from the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club, whose president, P.R. Praveen, described the arrest as “outrageous.” While acknowledging the police’s authority to act against unlawful content, Praveen emphasised that such actions should not compromise human dignity or press freedom.
He added that Skariah was arrested while having dinner with his parents and was not allowed to dress appropriately.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar accused the CPI(M)-led government of turning Kerala into a “police raj” and suppressing constitutional rights. “This was a blatant attempt to keep Shajan in custody for a day, but the plan failed,” he stated.
Former Nilambur MLA P.V. Anvar also condemned the arrest in a social media post, likening the Home Department to a “theatre troupe.”
He argued that Skariah, being a well-known public figure, could have been summoned legally instead of being arrested in the middle of the night. Anvar further accused the government of staging politically motivated arrests, knowing the court would eventually grant bail.
This is not Skariah’s first run-in with the law. In 2023, he was arrested in a forgery case by Thrikkakara Police and also booked for allegedly inciting communal tensions.
Earlier in 2024, Kochi City Police charged him under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, based on a complaint by MLA P.V. Srinijin. Skariah was granted bail in all these cases.
After his latest arrest, Skariah announced plans to approach the court, citing violations of Supreme Court guidelines on arrest procedures. Legal experts have also pointed out the inconsistency in the handling of previous complaints against him, including one where legal advice to register an FIR under the IT Act was allegedly ignored.
The incident has triggered fresh debate over the boundaries of press freedom, police accountability and political influence in law enforcement across Kerala.
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