Devaswom Minister Warns: 'If the Circular Is Not Withdrawn, We Will Assume the Board Also Had a Role in the Sabarimala Gold Theft'
June 15: Kerala Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan on Monday said he had urged the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to withdraw a recent circular that appointed officials facing investigation in the Sabarimala gold theft or loss case to key positions within the board.
Addressing reporters in Guruvayur, Mr. Muraleedharan revealed that he had written to TDB president K. Jayakumar on Saturday, requesting the immediate withdrawal of the circular.
"The board has independent powers, and the government cannot directly interfere in its decisions. Even then, I have demanded that the circular appointing individuals facing investigation in the Sabarimala gold loss case to important posts be withdrawn," the Minister said.(sabarimalauptodate.in)
Mr. Muraleedharan expressed confidence in Mr. Jayakumar's impartiality, despite his appointment during the tenure of the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
"If the circular is not corrected, the State government will assume that the current board also has involvement in the gold loss incident," he warned.
The Minister stated that the Devaswom Department would consider further action in the gold loss case only after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submits chargesheets in the two cases related to the alleged disappearance of gold from the Sabarimala temple.
According to Mr. Muraleedharan, the SIT has yet to file chargesheets in both cases.
"If flaws are found in the chargesheets, the Cabinet will decide on the need for further investigations," he said, adding, "We will intervene if the findings in the chargesheets are not satisfactory."(sabarimalauptodate.in)
The Minister also indicated that more disclosures concerning Sabarimala could emerge in the coming days.
"Former Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan himself has said that more revelations are likely to surface. When new information comes to light, investigations will be conducted accordingly," Mr. Muraleedharan said.
His remarks came in the wake of reports suggesting that former TDB president and former MLA A. Padmakumar is writing a book detailing alleged irregularities related to the temple administration and the controversial entry of two women into Sabarimala following the Supreme Court verdict permitting women of menstruating age to enter the shrine.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala dismissed the need for a fresh investigation based solely on media reports concerning Mr. Padmakumar's purported revelations.
"Padmakumar is a prime accused in the Sabarimala gold loss case. If he makes any revelations, the SIT will examine whether they are relevant. There is no need for a fresh investigation," Mr. Chennithala told reporters.
The Minister further noted that Mr. Padmakumar, who had been arrested by the SIT in connection with the case, was granted statutory bail after spending 90 days in custody.
Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged Sabarimala gold loss case on Sunday conducted a fresh inspection at Sannidhanam with the assistance of experts, following special permission granted by the High Court.
The Sabarimala gold loss case continues to attract public attention, with the government maintaining that further action will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation and the contents of the forthcoming chargesheets.