The Museum police in Thiruvananthapuram arrested Students’ Federation of India (SFI) district president Vijay Vimal on Sunday in connection with the mob attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during the recent raid at Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence.

Mr. Vimal, who is also an Anjuthengu grama panchayat member and former chairperson of Kerala University Union, was taken into custody from his house in Attingal. With the police action, the total number of people arrested in two related cases on the incident has risen to 26.

The SFI leadership has denied Mr. Vimal’s involvement in the incident, even claiming he was not present at the scene of the confrontation during the ED raid. However, the police maintain that video footage from the area conclusively proves his role in the assault.

SFI State president P.S. Sajeev, addressing a press conference on Sunday, accused the government of unleashing a brutal and politically motivated State-sponsored violence against SFI workers. He questioned the legality of the arrest and alleged that it was executed without a warrant or any concrete evidence.

He also alleged that the police have been shielding Kerala Students’ Union (KSU) workers since the clash that followed the Kerala University Union elections. The police, he claimed, had formed a “protective barrier” for KSU workers, while they hurled stones on SFI activists during a victory procession held in the city.

Besides, during a protest march in Malappuram organised the next day, the police allegedly subjected SFI activists to brutality by hitting them on their heads with lathis, he said.