The opposition Congress in Kerala has strongly criticised the state police for applying solely bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the case involving actor Vinayakan, who in an inebriated condition reportedly threatened and abused officers. The actor allegedly created ruckus at the Ernakulam Town North police station on Tuesday evening, where he was summoned by the police over a dispute with his wife at his apartment.

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Slamming the move of the state police, Congress leader Uma Thomas wrote on Facebook, “We all have been watching the actions of drunken Vinayakan bad mouthing the police officers including the SHO who were on duty at Ernakulam North Station. Despite coming to the station and behaving so badly and obstructing the duties of the officers, he was released on bail under weak charges… was it because he had the privilege of being a comrade… or was it following the instructions received from Cliff House… Whatever it is it also demoralises a section of police officers who work with dignity…”

Kochi’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sasidharan, firmly dismissed the accusations, emphasizing that the police force remains impervious to any form of external pressure. He clarified that Vinayakan was charged with sections that could potentially result in a maximum sentence of three years. The DCP also added that a non-bailable section would exist only if there was any criminal force against anyone.

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A sub-inspector at the Ernakulam Town North police station told HT earlier, “On Tuesday afternoon, we got a call from Vinayakan over a row at his apartment. When we went there, we found that he was in an inebriated condition. He verbally abused our officers, including women constables. We warned him not to repeat it. There was no complaint from his wife or other family members, so we came back.”

“In the evening around 7.30pm, he came to the police station in the same inebriated condition and created a ruckus. He again used offensive language against our officers. So, we booked a case against him… We later released him on bail,” the officer said.

Vinayakan was booked under sections 118(A) and 117(E) of the Kerala Police Act. The officer said that the actor had caused similar acts of commotion in the past.

(With agencies’ inputs)