Kerala teacher arrested over alleged false claim of worms in food at state sports meet
The food was inspected after the teacher’s social media post triggered a protest, while rival political claims over his affiliations added to the controversy.
- ✓The food was inspected after the teacher’s social media post triggered a protest, while rival political claims over his affiliations added to the controversy.
- ✓Primary Authority: Official communique verified from Hindustan Times India.
- ✓Civic Domain: Categorized under education public notices.
A physical education teacher was arrested on Thursday for allegedly making a false claim that worms were found in food served to students attending the State Sports Meet being held in Kozhikode, police said. Kunnamangalam police took him into custody and later recorded his arrest.
(Instagram/@kerala_police) (Representative Image)Keralam General Education Minister N Samsudheen alleged a conspiracy behind the incident and the department suspended the teacher, ordering an inquiry. The arrested person was identified as Jijo James, a teacher at a vocational higher secondary school in Ernakulam district.
The State Sports Meet is being held at the NIT Kozhikode ground, with students from all schools under the General Education Department taking part. On Wednesday, James alleged that worms were found in the food served to students attending the event.
Police said the teacher uploaded a Facebook post alleging the misconduct. Later, student organisation SFI held a protest march, officials said. Following the allegation, the organisers conducted an inspection and found it to be false, police said.
Based on a complaint lodged by Sports Meet Convenor P K Aravindan, the Kunnamangalam police registered a case against James on Thursday under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot.
By evening, the teacher deleted the social media post, officials said. Kunnamangalam police took him into custody and later recorded his arrest. As the case is registered under a bailable charge, the teacher would be released on bail, officials said.
Further investigation is underway, police added. Meanwhile, minister Samsudheen said the incident appeared to be part of a planned attempt by certain anti-social elements to disrupt the sporting event, which students had prepared for through months and years of training.
"Those trying to disrupt a sports meet organised for our children are anti-social elements. Some people are acting out of other interests, and this is a very bad practice," he told reporters here. Samsudheen said the organisers had inspected the food following the allegation and found it to be false.
He claimed that the incident was not the work of the teacher alone and called for an investigation into the alleged conspiracy. "The incident was not created by him alone. There are people with an anti-social mindset behind attempts to disrupt the meet, and their role should be investigated," he said.
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| Issuing Authority | Hindustan Times India |
|---|---|
| Topic Category | EDUCATION |
| Jurisdiction | All India / National |
| Publication Date | 29 October 2026 |