Bigg Boss Malayalam contestant Rajith Kumar was taken into custody by the police on Tuesday. A case was filed against him and 78 others who thronged the Kochi airport on Sunday night to welcome him after he was ousted from the reality show. The mass gathering took place while the coronavirus restrictions are in place in the state.
According to reports, Rajith Kumar was taken into custody from his home in Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram. He will be handed over to the Nedumbassery police, with whom the case has been filed. Two others were arrested on Tuesday—Chelamattom natives Nibas and Mohammed Afsal. The News Minute reported that cases have been registered under sections 143 (Unlawful Assembly), 147 (rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 283 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation).
Ernakulam district collector S. Suhas took to Facebook on Monday to condemn the act. In the Facebook post, he wrote that this show by a fans association of a TV show is shameful for every Malayali, at a time when the whole world is taking precautions against the coronavirus outbreak. “The law cannot close its eyes against such blatant breaking of the rules when religious, political and social groups are all avoiding every kind of gathering as part of the precautions to keep the people safe,” he wrote. He further stated that such star worship is generally not part of Malayali culture.
Rajith Kumar, a botany lecturer, has been in the news for many of his misogynist and controversial statements. He was one of the contestants of season 2 of Bigg Boss Malayalam hosted by actor Mohanlal. He had to face an unexpected ouster from the show after he applied chilli paste onto the eyes of one of the contestants.
Social media has been divided on the subject with his fans grouped as 'Rajith Kumar army' protesting his exit. A number of videos circulating on social media show the large crowd and frenzy outside the Kochi airport on Sunday night as they waited to welcome him.