Indicating that a follow-up investigation might be ordered into the mysterious death of Sivagiri Mutt chief Swami Saswathikananda in 2002, the Kerala Home Department has sought a report from the State police’s Crime Branch, which had held an extensive probe in the case earlier.
The Government’s move to examine the possibility of ordering a fresh probe has come in the context of demands made for such a probe from various quarters after Biju Ramesh, whistleblower in the sensational bar bribery scam, alleged last week that the seer was murdered by a hired killer in July, 2002 at the behest of SNDP Yogam chief Vellappally Natesan.
The charge against Natesan had come up after he announced the Yogam’s decision to lead the efforts to launch a party of the majority communities of the State and indicated that the Yogam, outfit of Hindu lower caste Ezhavas who constitute over 20 percent of the Kerala population, as well as the proposed party might enter into an electoral understanding with the BJP.
The new allegations have stirred up a controversy in the State as these have come up on the eve of the crucial local bodies election to be held in the first week of November. The charges against Natesan had come up just a week after he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah in New Delhi.
“The Crime Branch had once examined all aspects of the case. Now, a follow-up probe can be initiated only if there are fresh evidences or information on the case. It is up to the Crime Branch to take a decision on this. I have asked the Additional DGP, Crime Branch to examine this and file a report,” said State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Monday.
“The Government has an open approach to the issue. We are not for a probe or against it,” Chennithala said. Regarding the demand for a CBI probe into the Swami’s death, the Minister said, “This demand had been examined the by the High Court and Supreme Court. However, it all depends on whether any fresh evidence has come up.”
Among those who demanded a fresh probe were the Swami’s family and the Sivagiri Mutt. Sources said the Government decided to examine the possibility of launching such a probe on the basis of a discussion held among Chennithala, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and State Congress president VM Sudheeran.
Natesan, who is also facing charges of amassing hundreds of crores of rupees through appointment of teachers and other staff in the educational institutions under the control of the Yogam and a microfinance scheme run by it with assistance from a State corporation, has already said that he is ready to face any kind of probe.
On Monday, the BJP seemed to be coming to the defence of Vellappally Natesan on the issue of the Swami’s death though its State leadership had the other day said that it did not have the responsibility to justify him. There were also rumours that the State BJP leadership was divided over the approach to be adopted towards the issue.
“Those who have raised the allegation (against Natesan) have the responsibility of presenting the evidences as well. It is not proper for anyone to just fire in the air without the support of evidences merely to stir up political controversies in the time of a crucial election,” said State BJP president V Muraleedharan on Monday.