Kochi: Swami Saswathikananda’s death was due to drowning after possibly being caught in an undercurrent in the Periyar river. This was the conclusion reached by the Fort Kochi sub-divisional magistrate on the basis of a closure report filed by the Crime Branch.
The closure report, which DC has accessed, has busted the charges of foul play and stated that there was nothing suspicious about the death.
The then investigating officer K.G. Simon, who was the Crime Branch SP, submitted the final report in the case on December 31, 2013 stating that the court should close it as a case of drowning.
“Saswathikananda, former head of Sivagiri mutt, arrived at Aluva Adwaithasramam on July 1, 2002 for the director board meeting at 8.45 a.m. At 9.30 a.m., he along with his aide Sabu went to a kadavu in the asramam to take bath. Saswathikananda handed over his jubba, ring and dhoti to his aide. He then stepped into the waters wearing ‘uthareeyam’ and took two dips and came back. Later, he asked for a soap and went to take a further dip but mysteriously the Swami got into the undercurrents of the river,” the Crime Branch report said.
Saswathikananda drowned due to asphyxia as a result of aspiration of fluid into air-passages, the report said. The Crime Branch listed 115 persons as witnesses in the 11- page final report written in Malayalam.
Mr Simon concluded that he closed the case after considering the reports of the medico-legal expert, post- mortem certificate, medical analysis report and the witness statements.
Biju was questioned in Swami’s case
Crime Branch SP K.G. Simon's final report in the Saswathikananda death case has revealed that he had questioned businessman Biju Ramesh, who has now raised murder charges, and Priyan, the alleged killer. Biju Ramesh is listed as the 114th witness while Priyan is the 104th.
According to Biju Ramesh, Priyan had admitted to killing Saswathikananda. Mr Simon, as the head of the Special Investigation Team of the Crime Branch, had also listed Praveen as the 37th witness who allegedly dropped Priyan at Aluva Asramam, according to Santhakumari, sister of Saswathikananda.
Biju Ramesh has claimed that the police had never questioned him on the case.
