Kasaragod, Kerala – A. Pavithran, a Deputy Tehsildar posted in Kanjangad, Kasaragod district, has been suspended from service and arrested for posting defamatory and misogynistic comments on social media against Renjitha Nair, one of the victims of the Ahmedabad air crash that occurred on 12 June 2025.
The action followed a formal petition filed by Prabhakaran Nair Karicherry, President of the Hosdurg Taluk unit of the Nair Service Society (NSS), a community organisation representing Hindu Nairs. Pavithran’s arrest came in the wake of his Facebook post targeting Renjitha, in which he not only insulted women going abroad for employment but also made derogatory remarks about the Nair community.
He was arrested on June 13 from the Vellarikundu Taluk Office, reportedly in an inebriated state at the time of his detention. The arrest was subsequently recorded at Kanjangad.
Pavithran has a prior history of misconduct. A case had earlier been registered against him for making casteist slurs against E. Chandrasekharan, a former CPI MLA. At that time, he was issued a warning.
Sources also claim that Pavithran had publicly supported CPM leader and former Kannur Zilla Panchayat president P.P. Divya when she was alleged to be involved in the suspicious death of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu – a case that was extensively reported by Organiser.
There are unconfirmed reports that Pavithran is affiliated with a Left-leaning service union.
In response to the incident, Revenue Minister K. Rajan issued a strong statement condemning Pavithran’s conduct, describing his social media posts as “mean, spiteful, and cruel.”
