Court remarks on Tantri’s arrest fuel fresh political row over Sabarimala gold loss case
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The recent observation by the Kollam Vigilance Court that there was no iota of evidence against Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru in the Sabarimala gold loss case has triggered a political debate, with opposition parties targeting the state government.
Referring to the court’s observations, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar questioned on Saturday why Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru was arrested, given that there was “no iota of evidence” against him.
“Tantri was arrested to divert attention from the involvement of former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran. There is no doubt about it, as the court itself said there is no iota of evidence against Tantri,” he alleged.
He further claimed that no investigation was being conducted against Surendran or the current Devaswom Minister, V N Vasavan.
“We will expose the flaws in the investigation and the involvement of leaders,” he said, demanding that the probe be handed over to the CBI.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan, said that the SIT should clarify the reason behind Tantri’s arrest and explain what offence he had committed in connection with the Sabarimala gold loss case.
He added that the Opposition had sought clarification as early as January 11 regarding the basis of the arrest and that the incident in which the Tantri (chief priest) spent 40 days in jail without any evidence should be investigated under the supervision of the High Court.
“The public should be told what the wrongdoing was and under what circumstances he was imprisoned,” he said.
Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that the Tantri, who handles only the spiritual affairs of the Lord Ayyappa temple, was trapped to divert attention in the case.
“The government should explain the situation behind the distorted version created in the case by targeting the Tantri. The SIT, which is controlled by the state government, should provide answers to the public,” Radhakrishnan said.
He alleged that including the Tantri in the case was an attempt to shield the real culprits.
“Who gave permission to arrest the Tantri, and on what basis was such a direction given? If there is any evidence, it should be presented to the public. Those who created distorted versions in the case are standing with the real culprits,” he said.
He further alleged that the incident revealed external pressure on the SIT to arrest the Tantri without evidence.
“Those behind this external pressure should now be revealed,” he said.
When asked whether the Congress party believed that the Tantri was falsely implicated, Radhakrishnan said this was evident from the court order granting him bail.
Meanwhile, the Tantri’s argument before the court during the bail hearing—that he was arrested in retaliation for his stand against the entry of women of menstruating age following the Supreme Court order in 2018—was also widely discussed in political circles.
Minister M B Rajesh said that all the accused persons put forward arguments, and the Tantri was no exception. “Will the arguments of other accused also be accepted like this?” he asked.
He said the investigation was being conducted under the supervision of the Kerala High Court.
“The report on the progress of the investigation is filed in a sealed cover regularly. It is the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court that expressed satisfaction over the probe and clarified that details of the investigation are not shared with anyone else,” he said.
He asked whether the High Court should not be believed. “Currently, we do not believe the accused but the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court,” he said.
BJP leader and former Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, after launching his book ‘Sabarimala Samaravum Suvarna Avasara Vidhiyum’ on Saturday, said he had directed Tantri Rajeevaru to close the doors of the Sabarimala temple when two women escorted by the police were approaching the shrine for entry in 2018.
“When the holy 18th step onwards was sealed, the Tantri and his assistants sat there and defied the state government,” he said.
He added that when the Tantri was in jail, he wanted to visit his family but was discouraged by party workers, as he had been made an accused in the Sabarimala case.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bengal police examining CCTV footage, multiple teams set up to trace killers of Suvendu's aide
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Police are examining CCTV footage and have formed multiple teams to trace the men involved in the killing of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s close aide Chandranath Rath, a senior officer said on Thursday.
Police are also probing whether contract killers were engaged in the murder of Rath, who was shot dead in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday night.
A forensic team visited the spot on Thursday morning and collected samples, while officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) also joined the probe, he said.
"Going by the circumstantial evidence, it seems that the murder was pre-planned. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the crime spot and nearby areas, while multiple police teams have been formed to trace the assailants," the officer said.
Police, however, are yet to make any arrests in connection with the crime.
According to preliminary information, Rath's car was intercepted near Doharia between Doltala and Madhyamgram Chowmatha around 10.15 pm on Wednesday by motorcycle-borne men who opened fire before fleeing.
"A detailed investigation has begun. We are pursuing several leads," the officer said.
Rath, 42, was returning to his residence in Madhyamgram from Kolkata when the incident occurred, he said. The deceased is survived by his son and wife.
The vehicle was being driven by Buddhadeb Bera, who also sustained bullet injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kolkata, another officer said.
Bera, who underwent a couple of surgeries, remained "very critical", sources in the hospital said.
Preliminary findings suggested that the assailants intercepted Rath's vehicle in a coordinated manner before firing multiple rounds from close range, the officer said.
Investigators claimed the vehicle carrying Rath was first blocked near Doharia junction by a small four-wheeler, after which a motorcycle rider approached Rath's car and started firing from close range.
"Rath’s car was intercepted around 100 metres from the housing complex where he lived. The small car came in front of his vehicle, slowing down its pace, and it seems that was when the killers shot him," the officer said.
The occupants of the small four-wheeler later abandoned the vehicle and escaped on motorcycles, police said.
Police suspected that the killers fled on two motorcycles in two directions.
"One probably took the main road towards Jessore Road, while the other took a narrow street on the left leading to Rajarhat," the officer said.
Another police officer said CCTV footage showed the car travelling towards Madhyamgram before the attack.
Investigators said they are taking help from both Kolkata Police and Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate to check CCTV footage installed under their respective jurisdictions and study the movement of the killers.
"The number plate attached to the small car left by the assailants was found to be fake. It belongs to a person based in Siliguri, who works in a tea estate. The chassis number and engine number of the small car have been erased. It indicates that they had planned the murder," he said.
The person, in Siliguri, is being interrogated by Mothabari police, he added.
"He is claiming to have uploaded a photograph of his vehicle on an online platform with the intention of selling it. We are verifying his claims and rechecking them," the officer said.
"We have recovered empty cartridges and live ammunition from the crime spot. At this stage, the motive behind the attack is not clear," the DGP said.
Police suspect the use of sophisticated firearms during the attack.
On Thursday, police recovered a bullet shell from the streets approaching Rath's residence, the sleuth said.
According to preliminary forensic inputs, the assailants might have used Glock 47X pistols, he said.
"A weapon of this nature is generally not used by ordinary criminals. We are examining whether professional shooters were involved," a senior West Bengal Police officer said on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, one of the locals claimed to have seen three people on a bike "waiting" on the streets last night.
He also said that they had little clue about Rath's association with Adhikari.
"We did not know much about Rath. Whether he was an aide of Adhikari was not known to us. He used to return home in the same car with a West Bengal Assembly sticker at the same time everyday," the local resident claimed.
