Pinarayi Vijayan denies 'fabricated' report on police vehicle outside his Kannur home

Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, has strongly denied media reports that a police station was operating from a non-functional police vehicle parked outside his residence at Pinarayi in Kannur district. In a social media post on Thursday (September 3, 2026), he described the reports as a deliberate attempt to personally humiliate him.

Mr. Vijayan, who served as Chief Minister of Kerala from 2016 to 2021 and currently leads the opposition in the State Assembly, said the police vehicle had been stationed near his home as part of the Police department's official security arrangements. He explained that deploying police outpost personnel and vehicles outside the residences of Ministers and other protected dignitaries is a standard procedure followed by the department.

He categorically stated that no police station had ever been established in front of his house. The vehicle, he said, was used by policemen who arrived and left as part of routine security duties. Over time, the vehicle became non-functional and remained parked in the same spot, he added.

Mr. Vijayan said the police had informed him at the time that the vehicle would be removed, repaired and put back into service. However, even three months after he demitted office, the vehicle had not been removed. He questioned why the police had not acted on their assurance, and asked the department to explain the delay.

The former Chief Minister also clarified that he had never personally requested security for his residence. The arrangements, he maintained, were made by the Police department based on its own assessment and standard protocols.

Criticising the media report, Mr. Vijayan alleged that it was constructed with the intention of creating a wrong impression about him. He said the coverage appeared to be aimed at personal denigration rather than at fair and factual reporting.

The episode raises broader questions about the maintenance and timely removal of non-functional police equipment. While security arrangements for former Chiefs of Ministers are guided by official norms, a lack of prompt administrative follow-up can lead to avoidable misunderstandings and give room for motivated narratives.

Mr. Vijayan's detailed rebuttal seeks to clear the air about the nature of the vehicle's presence and underscores his demand for accountability from the police. His statement is significant given his position as the Leader of the Opposition, and comes at a time when political rivalries in Kerala often turn relatively minor administrative lapses into contentious public issues.