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A 26-year-old man from Kerala was arrested after returning from Saudi Arabia and booked under the UAPA
July 7, 2026: A 26-year-old man from Kerala’s Malappuram district has been arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly posting an objectionable comment on social media in response to a video featuring the daughter of N Ramachandran, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack last year. The accused, Muhammed Sanoof, was detained by immigration officials at Karippur Airport on July 3 after arriving from Saudi Arabia, where he had been working. He was later handed over to the Muttom Police in Idukki.
Police said an FIR had been registered against Sanoof in April 2025 based on a complaint filed by Yuva Morcha activist Adeena Alex, who alleged that his social media remarks promoted religious hatred. After discovering that the accused was employed abroad, police issued a Look Out Circular (LoC), leading to his detention upon arrival in India. Investigators said the UAPA was invoked after examining his online activity and statements during interrogation.
According to police, the provisions of the UAPA were applied as the alleged remarks were found to threaten national unity and promote communal hatred. Following his arrest, Sanoof was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. Police are expected to seek his custody for further interrogation, and the case may be transferred to the Kerala Police Crime Branch or the Anti-Terrorist Squad for further investigation.