In a significant development in the ongoing Sabarimala gold smuggling investigation, the political temperature in Kerala has risen sharply. This follows the arrest of the temple's tanthri, Kandararu Rajeevaru, by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday. The arrest has prompted strong allegations from the opposition Congress party, pointing fingers at higher political echelons.
Congress Alleges High-Level Conspiracy
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Sunny Joseph, wasted no time in reacting to the arrest. He launched a direct attack, alleging that the high-profile gold theft from the sacred Sabarimala temple was not an isolated act. Joseph claimed it was a "joint venture" between the arrested tanthri, Kandararu Rajeevaru, and the former Devaswom Minister, Kadakampally Surendran. This allegation adds a serious political dimension to the criminal investigation, implicating a senior leader from the ruling CPI(M).
Joseph expressed dissatisfaction with the pace and direction of the SIT's investigation. He insisted that the probe must now target the "big guns" involved in the scandal. "The details of Kadakampally Surendran's interrogation should be revealed," Joseph demanded. He acknowledged the tanthri's arrest as a development but stressed that the public is eager to know what transpired when the former minister was questioned.
Questions Over SIT's Interrogation Methods
The KPCC chief raised specific questions about the nature of the SIT's interaction with the former minister. Referring to Surendran's own claim that he was not formally interrogated but only had information collected from him, Joseph asked, "My question is whether the SIT officers carried out an interview of the former minister. The people of Kerala need to know." This line of questioning suggests a perception that the investigation might be treating influential figures with kid gloves.
Joseph further elaborated on the operational aspects of the theft. He asserted that the people are aware of who assisted the first accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, in entering the temple premises to loot the gold. He alleged that no such theft could have been executed without the knowledge of the Devaswom Board, which at the time was headed by a president and overseen by a minister, both from the CPI(M).
Chargesheet Delay and Political Protection
In a serious charge that questions the integrity of the probe, Sunny Joseph accused the SIT of deliberately delaying the submission of the chargesheet. He implied that this delay is a tactical move to shield leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from legal repercussions. This accusation aligns with the Congress's broader narrative of political corruption and cover-up within the state administration.
Meanwhile, adding a layer of caution to the political discourse, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal noted that the SIT's probe has still not reached the names that are being widely discussed in the public domain. This statement, while supportive of Joseph's push for a wider probe, also subtly acknowledges that the current arrests may only be scratching the surface of a potentially larger network.
The arrest of the tanthri and the immediate political fallout underscore the deep entanglement of religious administration, crime, and politics in the Sabarimala gold scam case. As the SIT continues its work, pressure is mounting for it to demonstrate impartiality and pursue all leads, irrespective of the political stature of those involved.
