Hardly a day after a scuffle broke out between Congress MLA Ramya Haridas and local party workers at Chirayinkeezhu in Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam, the Chirayinkeezhu police on Saturday (September 5, 2026) registered cases against the MLA and Congress workers following complaints from both sides.

The police registered a case against a total of 15 Congress workers, including seven identified by the MLA, under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, based on Ms. Haridas’s statement.

A separate case has also been registered against the MLA based on a complaint filed by a Congress worker named, Sajad, whose statement will be recorded on Saturday, the police said.

With both sides trading allegations against each other, the police seem to be treading cautiously on the matter, as there are now allegations and counter-allegations that both groups beat each other up.

Allegations

Ms. Haridas alleged that she was manhandled and threatened by local Congress leaders, mainly over a WhatsApp post.

On the other hand, district panchayat member Sajith Muttambalam and party local leader Sajad gave a different account, alleging that the MLA and her associates had confronted them over the WhatsApp post, following which a scuffle broke out on Friday night. Ms. Haridas, who sustained injuries in the incident and was admitted to Chirayinkeezhu Taluk Hospital, was discharged on Saturday morning.

The scuffle is related to a dispute over the participation of Ms. Haridas’s staff member, Palayam Pradeep, in a block panchayat committee meeting attended by the MLA, other elected representatives of the block panchayat and officials. Some members questioned Mr. Pradeep’s participation in the meeting, and a social media post was subsequently made by a Congress worker in connection with the incident.

Footage released

The footage released after the scuffle includes an argument between the MLA and Congress leaders, followed by Ms. Haridas slapping a Congress leader in the face. The difference of opinion over the participation of the MLA’s PA was the trigger for the argument and subsequent scuffle. In the footage, the activists can also be seen grabbing the MLA’s hand and twisting it. The MLA can be heard saying, “Let go of my hand.”

Ms. Haridas later told the media that Mr. Sajad had made repeated negative remarks about her on WhatsApp and social media. “When I asked him about the posts, Sajad said he posted the social media posts at the direction of Sajith,” she said.