Kannur, Kerala: A Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) councillor from Koothuparamba in Kannur district, Kerala, has been arrested for allegedly snatching a gold chain from an elderly woman. Following the arrest, the party swiftly expelled the leader, stating that his actions had severely damaged the party’s prestige.
The arrested individual has been identified as P. P. Rajesh, the sitting councillor of the Palapparamba ward in the Koothuparamba municipality.
The incident occurred last Thursday (date not specified in all sources, but approximately three to five days before October 18, 2025) around noon. According to police reports, the victim, Janaki, an elderly woman residing in Kaniyakunn, was cutting fish in the kitchen area of her house when the accused, reportedly arriving on a scooter wearing a helmet, approached her from behind. He allegedly grabbed her by the neck and snatched her gold chain, which weighed approximately one sovereign (about 8 grams). During the struggle, a small piece of the chain reportedly broke off and fell to the ground.
The accused fled the scene when the woman’s screams alerted relatives and neighbours.
The police launched an investigation, scrutinizing CCTV footage from the area which helped in identifying and apprehending Rajesh. He was subsequently taken into custody.
The CPM immediately took strict disciplinary action against the councillor. The party’s local leadership announced his expulsion from the primary membership of the party, stating that Rajesh’s action of committing a theft, especially against an elderly woman, was a “grave anti-party activity” and had seriously “tarnished the party’s image and honour” in the public eye.
CPM Councillor Arrested for Chain Snatching, Expelled for ‘Tarnishing Party Image’.
