Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday (July 25) said that he would look into why a case was registered over a protest meet organised in Kochi in solidarity with the student agitations in Delhi. He was responding to media queries here as to the criticism against the case registered by the Ernakulam Town South police in connection with the event attended by activists and celebrities, including rapper Hirandas Murali, known as Vedan.

“Usually, cases are not registered over such incidents. We will examine what happened,” the Minister said.

The case was registered against one Vignesh G. Pillai, reportedly the organiser of the event, and 99 identifiable people after they gathered near Central Park in Panampilly Nagar on Wednesday (July 22) in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests against NEET question paper leak. The accused have been booked on charges of obstructing public way, disobedience to lawful orders and unlawful assembly under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The police action has drawn criticism from different corners including the CPI(M).

Asked about the probe into alleged organ donation racket unearthed during a series of raids in May, Mr. Chennithala said a special investigation team, led by District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) K.S. Sudarshan, was formed following complaints over organ donation rackets centred around some hospitals.

“Such acts will not be tolerated. The SIT will start its works soon. All angles will be investigated,” he said.

The Minister also condemned the social media campaign against senior CPI(M) leader and former minister P.K. Sreemathy over a fake claim that a social media campaign alleging that she was receiving a family pension in the name of a deceased MLA.

“Such campaigns are not at all acceptable. The Chief Minister forwarded a complaint over the matter to me, and I have handed it over to IG P. Prakash of the Cyber wing. Let him probe it,” Mr. Chennithala said.

Mr. Chennithala was in Kochi to attend an event related to the anti-drug drive Operation Toofan: The Narco Hunt.

Published - July 25, 2026 04:16 pm IST