Kerala rape case: Panmana Ashramam denies links with Swami, says ID card is fake

Thiruvananthapuram: While the Panmana Ashramam, a revered abode of sages at Chavara in Kollam, has denied links with Swami Gangeshanada who is now under arrest for rape under POCSO Act, the police said records showed that he was an inmate of the ashram. His election identity card also carried the same information, the police said.

The Ashram officials, however, said the ID was a fake one. “He used to run a hotel at Kozhancherry and Thiruvananthapuram,” said the head of the ashram Pranavanda Theerthapadar. Some others associated with the ashramam, however, said that the man was an assistant for some ceremonies that happened in their area some time ago.

Police officials said the swami used to run a retreat centre at Kozhancherry and used to visit the capital for conducting religious ceremonies at private residences.

Meanwhile, photographs of the godman along with leaders of Sangh parivar organisations have taken the social media by storm on Saturday. In one photograph, BJP state president Kummanam Rajashekaran and VHP leader Bhargavaram were seen along with the accused Swami Gangeshananda as part of a delegation that had gone to submit a memorandum in 2010 to then chief minister V.S. Achuthanadan regarding Malabar Devaswom Board. The leaders, however, disassociated themselves with him and demanded strict action against him.

When asked about the photograph, Mr Rajashekharan said that he might have interacted with several swamis while discharging his official responsibilities as a leader of Hindu Aikya Vedi.