Thiruvananthapuram, 29 August (H.S.): Police have arrested District Congress Committee member Chenthi Anil for allegedly obstructing Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan's convoy and misbehaving with him while he was travelling to attend Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti celebrations at Chempazhanthy.

Anil was taken into custody by Sreekaryam police around midnight on Friday. He is expected to be produced before a court at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Police registered the case based on a statement given by a grade sub-inspector who was present during the incident. Anil has been booked on charges including obstructing the Chief Minister from discharging his official duties, wrongful restraint, disorderly conduct and disrupting traffic.

The incident occurred at Chenthi when a group led by Anil reportedly signalled the Chief Minister's convoy to stop. The Chief Minister was on his way to the Jayanti celebrations at Chempazhanthy and was not scheduled to attend the Chathaya Dinam programme at the Sree Narayana Cultural Centre in Chenthi.

According to the allegations, the Chief Minister stepped out of his vehicle after the group flagged down the convoy. The organisers then requested him to inaugurate their function. When he declined and attempted to leave, some members of the group allegedly spoke to him disrespectfully and raised their voices.

The Chief Minister's security personnel subsequently pushed the protesters aside and cleared the way for the convoy to proceed. The organisers were reportedly upset because the Chief Minister had passed through the locality without attending their celebration.

Anil, however, denied blocking the Chief Minister. He claimed that he merely signalled the convoy and stepped forward after it stopped. According to him, it was the Chief Minister who spoke angrily during the encounter.

The organisers maintained that they had sought the Chief Minister's appointment several months ago and expected him to attend the Chenthi programme. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and whether others were involved.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman