SIT to approach Kerala HC against Thantri’s bail in Sabarimala gold heist case

The recent observation by the Kollam Vigilance Court that there was no evidence against Thanthri Kandararu Rajeevaru in the Sabarimala Temple gold heist case has sparked a political debate in Kerala.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the case, is reportedly planning to approach the Kerala High Court challenging the bail order granted to the Thanthri.

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The SIT alleges that the remarks of the Kollam Vigilance Court in the order granting bail to Thantri Rajeevaru are without understanding the facts. There is a lot of evidence against the Thantri. The evidence has not been presented in full in the bail petition, SIT sources said.

The SIT is trying to point out that the remarks of the Kollam Vigilance Court in the order granting bail to Thantri are wrong and convince the High Court that the observations will affect the probe in the case. A decision about approaching the High Court will be taken on Monday, it is learnt.

The Kollam Vigilance Court granted bail to Thantri Kandararuu Rajeevaru in the Sabimala gold heist case, ruling that investigators failed to produce “an iota of evidence” to establish a prima facie case against him.

The observation by the Kollam Vigilance Court that there was no iota of evidence against Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru in the Sabarimala gold loot case has triggered a political debate in Kerala, with opposition parties targeting the state government.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday said that the Thantri’s arrest in the Sabarimala gold robbery case without any evidence raises doubt. The SIT acted on the instructions of the Chief Minister’s Office. The Thantri was deliberately trapped. There was political interference in the case. After a certain stage, the Chief Minister’s Office took control of the SIT, Ramesh Chennithala said.

“The SIT did not follow the instructions given by the High Court. There is no investigation into the conspiracy. The Thantri was arrested to prevent the investigation from reaching former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally and present Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan,” Chennithala said.

Regarding the Kollam Vigilance court’s observations, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar questioned why Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru was arrested, given that there was “no iota of evidence” against him.

“The Thantri was arrested to divert attention from the involvement of former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran. There is no doubt about it, as the court itself said there is no iota of evidence against Thantri,” he alleged.

Chandrasekhar further said that no investigation was being conducted against Kadakampally Surendran or the current Devaswom Minister, V N Vasavan.

“We will expose the flaws in the investigation and the involvement of leaders,” he said, demanding that the probe be handed over to the CBI.

Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, alleged that the Thantri was arrested under the influence of the Chief Minister’s office to divert attention from allegations against CPM leaders in the Sabarimala gold loot case. He said that the SIT should clarify the reason behind Thantri’s arrest and explain what offence he had committed in connection with the Sabarimala gold loss case.