The arrest of Nipun Cherian, the president of V4 Kochi, a political collective based in Kochi has drawn strong protests from various quarters. Nipun was arrested on February 24, while he was attending a meeting in protest against the severe water shortage faced in the city for the last many days. He was released on February 27. He was arrested for contempt of court after he made certain statements against a sitting Kerala High Court judge. As per the court order, Nipun was to be produced before the Court at 10.15 am on February 28. The police were criticised for arresting him at a public event and handcuffing him. The warrant was issued on February 21.
The warrant was issued after Nipun did not appear before the court, even after being served notices. On February 8, the court issued a stern warning asking Nipun to appear before it. An arrest warrant was issued after he failed to appear before the court again. The speech that resulted in contempt was made in Chellanam to fishermen and local people against Justice N Nagaresh concerning taking over paddy cultivation by a high court committee in the area. It was posted on October 25, 2022, on the V4 Kochi Facebook page. The High Court took up a suo motu case against him in November 2022.
“The courts in our country are overly burdened with litigation, and its judges do not have the time to pander to such idiosyncratic behaviour of litigants. Our citizenry must realise that judges in this country work under enormous pressure owing to the mounting pendency of cases in our courts and the infrastructural and other constraints that affect the justice delivery system. Despite that, and on account of their discipline and training as judicial officers, they do not react to uncharitable and often unjustified, comments from the public about their judicial performance. Their restraint stems from the nobility they possess,” a division bench comprising Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Mohammed Nias CP said in the warrant order, as reported by LiveLaw.
His arrest drew criticism on social media. Cherian, who is lodged in Ernakulam sub-jail, is said to have begun a hunger strike. A Facebook user Nelson Mathew posted saying that Nelson was arrested five days before his appearance in court due to political pressure. “This is a conspiracy. People should not react even if they don't get drinking water? Is it a police raj?" he asked.
V4 People party workers and leaders held a protest march on February 26 to Vanchi Square in Ernakulam, against his arrest five days before his date of appearance before the court. The V4 Kochi team said that a contempt of court case had been filed against Nipun for accusing Justice Nagaresh of corruption. They also said that Nipun had appeared before the court on December 18.