Police gag media from asking questions to CM Satheesan in Kochi, ACP cites security aspect

The Kochi city police on Saturday (September 26, 2026) allegedly prevented journalists from asking questions of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The alleged incident happened when TV journalists were waiting for the Chief Minister’s arrival at an event at a convention centre in Kaloor.

Peter K.J., Assistant Commissioner, Ernakulam subdivision, prevented the journalists from getting near the Chief Minister, citing security reasons.

In a video aired on TV channels, the officer is heard saying that the Chief Minister is someone in the Z Plus security category. He did not give a clear answer to repeated queries from reporters on whether he had received any instruction to prevent journalists from asking questions to the Chief Minister.

“I spoke only from a security aspect. I didn’t get angry at you,” Mr. Peter is heard saying in the video.

The incident comes a day after Mr. Satheesan reportedly lost his cool at journalists who sought answers from him about allegations that he received money from former Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) Managing Director S. Sasidharan Kartha and the controversy over his recent chartered flight to flood-hit Malappuram on a flight lent by a benefactor whose details the chief minister has preferred to withhold.

While coming out of an official meeting at Thodupuzha on Friday (September 24, 2026), the chief minister declined to respond to the media and told the reporters, “Move aside… I am not meeting you.” He also alleged that the reporters were causing inconvenience to the public who had come to hand over petitions to him.