Thiruvananthapuram: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has refused to admit charges under the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2022 in the case related to an alleged bid to assassinate Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on board an IndiGo flight in 2022.

The state home department received a communication from the centre saying that the case cannot proceed under the Aircraft Security Act, which was invoked at the time of registering the case, as the incident did not involve acts that endangered the safety of the aircraft. The rules mainly address unlawful interference such as hijacking, use of weapons, carrying prohibited items, or cyber threats to aviation systems.

"The MHA has informed that charges under the Aircraft Security Act will not apply in this case. The investigation team will revise the charges accordingly and submit the charge sheet," a senior official with the Home department, Kerala told Onmanorama.

On June 13, 2022, Youth Congress workers Farzeen Majeed and Naveen Kumar raised slogans against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on board an IndiGo flight from Kannur to Thiruvananthapuram. CPM leader and then LDF convener EP Jayarajan was seen pushing the protesters. He later described the act as an “act of terror”.

IndiGo subsequently imposed a three-week ban on Jayarajan, while the two Youth Congress workers were barred from flying for two weeks.

The Valiyathura police booked the Youth Congress leaders on charges of attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, voluntarily causing hurt, and common intention. Congress leader KS Sabarinadhan was also arrested for allegedly plotting the protest against Vijayan on the flight.

Meanwhile, based on a court directive, Jayarajan and two members of the Chief Minister’s personal staff were also charged with attempt to murder and conspiracy for allegedly manhandling the protesters.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had told the assembly that WhatsApp chats revealed the organised nature of the crime and that there was a conspiracy to endanger his life. According to Pinarayi Vijayan, police recovered chats which revealed a call for violence, and there was a plan to stage a black flag protest on the flight.