Kerala’s political landscape took a turbulent turn on Wednesday after a late-night police raid at a hotel in Palakkad where Congress leaders were staying in preparation for the November 20 bypoll. The raid, reportedly based on a tip-off about potential black money linked to UDF candidate Rahul Mamkootathil, was soon marred by tensions as workers from the Congress, CPM, and BJP clashed on-site.
The three-hour operation, which wrapped up around 3:30 am, found no evidence of illegal funds. However, the atmosphere remained charged as altercations erupted between Congress supporters and the police. Congress MPs Shafi Parambil and V K Sreekandan were on hand attempting to manage the increasingly chaotic situation.
Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan decried the raid as politically motivated, while CPM and BJP members asserted that Mamkootathil himself was present at the scene. According to CPM, Congress workers incited the confusion intentionally to facilitate his escape—a claim Congress leaders refuted, explaining that the candidate had left to meet local religious leaders.
The situation intensified when the Palakkad Town South Police conducted a second inspection of the hotel on Wednesday afternoon, rechecking rooms and seeking information from the hotel’s CEO. CPM and BJP leaders subsequently filed complaints, alleging possible black money activities and calling for further investigation, including CCTV footage review.
The drama escalated with CPM's release of CCTV footage showing Congress worker Fenny Ninan, previously implicated in a fake ID scandal, carrying a trolley bag beside senior Congress figures and the UDF candidate himself. The CPM alleged that the bag contained black money, which Congress denied, accusing CPM of disseminating misinformation and meddling in police duties. Mamkootathil questioned how CPM obtained the footage, ostensibly collected by the police.
Amid mounting accusations, UDF leaders organized a march to the Superintendent of Police’s office. During the demonstration, minor scuffles broke out between police and Congress supporters. KPCC president K Sudhakaran denounced the midnight raid as a "staged drama" and accused CPM minister M B Rajesh and his family of conspiracy.
