Sabarimala Tanthri Kantararu Rajeevaru has been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on January 9 in connection with the Sabarimala gold loot. According to reports, the arrest was executed on the basis of statements made by former Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar (CPM leader and former MLA) and Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the gold loot case.
The Tanthri was arrested after detailed interrogation at the SIT headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. The SIT has ascertained that the Tanthri draws a salary from the Devaswom Board and hence comes under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The SIT has found that the three permissions issued by the Tanthri are shady. Statements given by Padmakumar and other arrested accused state that it was the Tanthri who brought Unnikrishnan Potti to Sabarimala. The Tanthri was summoned to the SIT headquarters based on these statements.
Details were also collected from November last year. The Tanthri had reportedly stated that the Devaswom Board is responsible for all movables and immovables in the temple. He had earlier said that it was Devaswom officials who approached him for maintenance works of the gold layers. He stated that he had given consent and God’s will when the Devaswom Board approached him. He also said that he had given permission to modernise the ‘golden attire’ (thanka anki) of the Dwarapalaka murtis as its colour had faded.
The Tanthri has now been remanded for 15 days. The remand report includes his involvement in the conspiracy and the support he allegedly gave to Unnikrishnan Potti in taking out the gold layers from the Sabarimala shrine. Potti reportedly took out the layers in his presence. Padmakumar had alleged that the fraud was carried out due to the Tanthri’s nexus with Potti.
The SIT opposed the Tanthri’s bail application, stating that it would send a wrong message and that his spiritual image could help him destroy evidence. Taking out the Dwarapalaka murtis and gold layers amounted to a violation of the temple premises.
The SIT now has reasons to believe that the Tanthri is the “divine people” Padmakumar had referred to. During the early days of the gold loot case, Padmakumar had said that he had trusted some people with divine qualities.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case against all accused named in the SIT list. The ED has found that large-scale black marketeering had taken place.
Katakampalli Surendran, senior CPM leader and former Devaswom Minister, and former Devaswom Board president P. Prasanth have already been interrogated and are likely to face action anytime from now.
R. V. Babu, president of the Hindu Aikyavedi, stated that whoever is guilty, irrespective of how superior they are, should be punished in an exemplary manner. However, it is not clear whether the Tanthri’s arrest is meant to divert the SIT investigation. Is this a face-saving route for the CPM? According to today’s news, the statement given before the High Court by SIT Investigation Officer Sasidharan refers to a letter by Executive Officer Sudheeshkumar.
The letter, the correspondence of Devaswom Board Commissioner Vasu, or the Board’s order dated March 19, 2019, do not mention any application from the Tanthri. Nor do they mention any evidence of the Tanthri’s permission to take out the gold layers. If so, there should be some other reason behind this arrest. Let the SIT make it clear.
The Tanthri is the topmost priest for every shrine. He does not perform daily pooja in the temple. However, the Tanthri is the ultimate authority and is said to be the ‘father’ of the deity. He is the authority who controls the temple rituals and traditions.
