A senior leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has raised serious allegations against the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the high-profile Sabarimala gold heist case. The VHP's Kerala state general secretary, Anil Vilayil, has claimed that the SIT's decision to arrest the Sabarimala temple's chief priest, or Tanthri, Kandararu Rajeevaru, appears to be politically motivated rather than based on concrete evidence.
VHP Alleges Political Timing in Priest's Arrest
In a strongly worded statement issued from Kochi, Vilayil pointed to the sequence of events as suspicious. He highlighted that the arrest of the Tanthri came swiftly the day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a separate case related to the gold theft. This timing, according to the VHP leader, indicates a possible ulterior motive by the state government.
Vilayil referenced reports that the SIT itself had submitted to the Kerala High Court, which reportedly indicated that the priest was not directly accused of involvement in the actual theft of the gold. Despite this, the investigative team moved quickly to make an arrest. "The decision to arrest the priest quickly indicated the government's interest," Vilayil asserted, questioning the sudden urgency.
Selective Targeting and Public Doubt
The VHP secretary further criticized the SIT for what he described as a lack of interest in arresting other key figures named in the case. He specifically mentioned former Devaswom Board member K P Sankaradas and former board president P S Prasanth. The failure to pursue these individuals with similar vigor, Vilayil argued, has made the current action against the Tanthri difficult for the public to believe.
"While VHP wanted the guilty to be punished, even if it was the priest, the law should take its course," Vilayil clarified, emphasizing that the organization is not against legal action but demands a fair and unbiased process. His core allegation is that the arrest seems designed to quickly conclude the investigation and file a chargesheet, thereby setting a stage for the ruling Left government's upcoming assembly election preparations.
Call for a CBI Probe and Fears of a Cover-Up
Expressing deep concern over the trajectory of the investigation, Anil Vilayil warned that the truth might remain buried unless a central agency takes over. He suggested that many powerful individuals involved wish to prevent the investigation from reaching them. "If an agency like the CBI does not take over the investigation soon, the chance of reaching the real culprits would be closed," he added, pushing for a more independent probe.
The VHP's intervention adds a significant political and communal dimension to the already sensitive Sabarimala gold heist case. It frames the arrest not just as a law-and-order action but as a potential move with electoral calculations, casting a shadow over the SIT's credibility and the state government's intentions.
