Mallapuram: A court has sentenced Kerala’s Nilambur MLA PV Anvar to Tavanoor prison in relation to a mischief charge against the forest office.

During a demonstration over the death of a tribal man who was mauled by an elephant in the Karulai forest, MLA Anvar was detained on Sunday for reportedly damaging the Nilambur Divisional Forest Office. Anvar has been placed under 14 days of judicial detention by the Nilambur magistrate.

After he and his followers marched in protest to the Nilambur Divisional Forest Office and reportedly caused damage to public property, Anwar was arrested.

Under the non-bailable provision, police have filed a charge against MLA PV Anvar and eleven other people for destroying public property and interfering with police officers’ ability to do their jobs.

Anvar’s followers had congregated outside his home, blocking the entry, and police had previously tried to arrest him. Due to the circumstances, there were several police officers in front of the MLA’s residence.

The Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly authorized the deployment of several police officers in front of Anvar’s residence.

In front of a sizable audience, police apprehended Anvar, and after his arrest, his fans sang chants in favor of him.
Anvar has been critical of the Kerala administration, especially Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and was formerly an ally of the Left Democratic Front. He accused the chief minister’s aides in September 2024 of stealing stolen gold and tapping phones.

Independent lawmaker PV Anvar accused ADGP (law and order) MR Ajith Kumar and P Sasi, the political secretary to the chief minister, of tapping ministers’ and journalists’ phones in September 2024. Anvar has also charged IPS officer Sujith Das S and MR Ajithkumar with embezzlement of confiscated gold.