ALAPPUZHA: The government on Saturday ordered a reprobe by the Crime Branch into the controversial death of Swami Saswathikananda, former head of the Sivagiri Mutt, based on the new evidence reportedly received by the investigation officer.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced this here triggering charges from the Opposition that it was aimed at diverting attention from the Vigilance court order on the bar bribery case against Finance Minister K.M. Mani.
SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, who was accused of having a role in the ‘murder’ of the Swami, welcomed the probe saying it might clear all the doubts about the death.
The minister told reporters that the fresh probe would be conducted by Mr P.K.Madhu, Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch), and supervised by Mr S. Ananthakrishnan, additional director general of police (Crime Branch).
It may be recalled that Mr Chennithala had said on October 20 that “a reinvestigation into Saswathikananda’s death was impossible.”
A few days ago , the Crime Branch had recorded the statement of hotelier Biju Ramesh who had alleged that the Swami was murdered by Priyan, a professional killer and accused in the murder of Praveen, on behalf of the Yogam chief.
He had also alleged that the Swami was killed following a dispute with Mr Vellapally Natesan and his son Thushar Vellapally on the bribe money received by the duo for the postings to the institutions under SN Trust. It was in July 2002 that the Swami, who had wide connections with political parties, was found dead in the Periyar river near Advaita Ashrarm, Aluva.
The Crime Branch in 2013 had submitted a closure report to the High Court stating that the Swami’s death was due to head injury sustained as he hit the rocks in the river bed while falling.
Hailing the probe, Mr Natesan said that the doubts of some people never ended and that these might be cleared permanently with the new probe. “Let there be any probe and nothing will happen to me,” he told reporters.
The fresh controversy had erupted following Mr Natesan’s bid to form a political party and seek an alliance with the BJP.
A public interest litigation moved by Mr P.D.Joseph seeking a reinvestigation into the death of the seer in the light of the fresh revelations was admitted by the High Court earlier in October.
