A graduation ceremony at Maharaja's College in Ernakulam was disrupted on Friday, October 30, after activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) moved towards the stage to confront Kerala Higher Education Minister Roji M. John, forcing him to leave the venue before the programme ended, Mirror Now and IANS reported.

The protesters were demanding answers over the recent suspension of 16 students at the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady. According to the reports, the activists displayed placards and banners as the minister began his inaugural address.

Mirror Now reported that SFI members, led by the college students' union vice-chairperson Nafeezath Musaliyar, demanded that the minister retract remarks he had reportedly made about the suspended students, who were punished for their opposition to Vice-Chancellor Ciza Thomas. The minister offered to address their concerns after the formal proceedings, but the protesters refused to disperse.

As the confrontation intensified, the minister warned that violence would not be tolerated and was escorted from the venue as a scuffle broke out among students present. The graduation ceremony resumed after his departure.

Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod, who attended the event, called for a formal investigation into the disruption and strict action against those responsible. The Government College Teachers Organisation also condemned the disruption of the academic event and joined the call for an official inquiry.