The Kerala Police’s investigation into the alleged MDMA trafficking network involving teachers attached to the Block Resource Centre (BRC) in Perambra, Kozhikode, has now brought the political affiliations of the accused under scrutiny, with reports indicating that two of the teachers held key positions in a pro-CPI (M) teachers’ organisation.
The case first came to light after the arrest of two BRC teachers, Keerthana and Kavya, in connection with financial transactions linked to an MDMA drugs trafficking network on July 27. Following the investigation, both were expelled from service after police reportedly found that their bank accounts had been used to route money connected to the drug racket.
As the probe progressed, another teacher, Nishma, has now surfaced in the investigation. Reports suggest that Kavya and Nishma are office bearers of the Perambra branch of the Kerala Resources Teachers’ Association (KRTA), a pro-CPM organisation representing special educators and resource teachers working under Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK).
According to reports, Kavya serves as the convener of the KRTA’s Perambra branch, while Nishma is its joint convener. Their organisational roles are reportedly reflected in official posters issued by the association. Both teachers have been working together at the same Block Resource Centre for several years.
The revelations have also raised questions over their prolonged tenure at the institution. While appointments to Block Resource Centres are ordinarily limited to one year, reports indicate that this norm was allegedly not followed in their case. Sources have attributed their continued appointments to political patronage.
The investigation has further brought to light an earlier incident involving arrested physical training teacher Keerthana. Reports claim that a packet of drugs allegedly fell from her possession during a Zumba dance session. Students are said to have informed the authorities about the incident, but no inquiry was initiated and the matter was allegedly hushed up.
Investigators are also probing allegations that some of the accused teachers themselves consumed narcotic substances and later developed links with the drug network. It is suspected that this addiction eventually drew them into the trafficking chain.
Police are reportedly continuing their investigation, with more arrests expected in the coming days. Authorities are also likely to initiate proceedings to confiscate the assets of the accused if found to have been acquired through proceeds of crime.
Another crucial aspect under investigation is whether any students were supplied with narcotic substances. Police are examining all available evidence to determine if the alleged drug network extended beyond financial transactions and involved the distribution of drugs to school students.
The latest revelations add to a series of drug-related cases involving CPI(M)-linked functionaries reported in Kerala.
On March 2, 2025, Vighnesh J., CPM’s Alappuzha Municipal Stadium East Branch Secretary and a former SFI area committee member, was arrested with MDMA and syringes, with police alleging he was both a consumer and seller of the synthetic drug.
On March 9, 2025, police seized banned drugs worth around ₹23 lakh from a godown allegedly linked to Deepu, a CPM member in Kollam, who reportedly fled during the raid.
On March 14, 2025, a police raid at the Government Polytechnic College hostel in Kalamassery led to the arrest of SFI leader and Students’ Union General Secretary Abhiraj after ganja was allegedly recovered from the hostel, while the investigation later widened to include other SFI-linked suspects.
On March 15, 2025, a CPM councillor publicly accused Adoor Municipal Chairperson Divya Reji Mohammed, his own party colleague, of shielding alleged drug peddlers, bringing the issue of political patronage into the spotlight.
Critics argue that the CPI(M) has repeatedly been linked to anti-social activities and has often taken positions being contrary to the national interest.
