The Crime Branch has been directed to give the report at the earlier
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has directed the Crime Branch to look into the fresh revelations in connection with the death of Swami Saswathikananda, former head of Sivagiri mutt.
Following a meeting with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran on Monday morning, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala directed ADGP (Crimes) S. Aananthakrishnan to examine whether there was any scope for a further probe into the case on the basis of the recent statements made by bar owner Biju Ramesh and the relatives of the Swami alleging the role of SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan and his son Tushar Vellapally in the death.
The Crime Branch has been directed to give the report at the earlier. Based on the report of ADGP (Crimes), the government would take a decision.
Either the demand for a further probe could be declined citing lack of any fresh evidence or a fresh probe by the Crime Branch itself could be ordered.
A CBI probe can also be sought as four teams of Crime Branch had already probed the death of the Swami in Periyar on July 1, 2002 and filed the closure report in 2013.
Crime Branch sources said that though the instruction from the government was yet to reach it, the Crime Branch top brasses had started evaluating the fresh statements.
“Once the government communication was received, the ADGP would decide whether to summon Biju Ramesh or Saswathikananda's sister Santha who made the fresh revelations,” said a Crime Branch official.
“All those who were under a cloud, including Biju Ramesh, hitman Priyan, driver Praveen and Saswathikananda’s aides were then quizzed by the Crime Branch team,” said Crime Branch sources.
