A native of Kannur, Ayanki had reportedly been operating from Kochi for the past few months. Police teams are carrying out an extensive search across Kochi and neighbouring districts to locate him. The search has been intensified after investigators found that Ayanki's mobile phone last pinged a tower in Kochi a few days ago. The renewed action follows a Facebook post in which Ayanki openly challenged both the Kerala Police and the Home Department. In the same post, Ayanki claimed that if a fresh investigation cleared his name, he would personally meet the Home Minister, present him with a golden shawl and kiss him as a symbolic gesture.