Kollam (Kerala), February 20 Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru has linked his arrest in the alleged gold theft cases at the hill shrine to his stance during the 2018 women's entry row, claiming that his position at the time caused offense to many.
Rajeevaru, who was the 16th accused in the alleged theft of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) and the 13th accused in the alleged theft of gold from the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) doorways, was recently granted bail by the Kollam Vigilance Court.
The bail order cited arguments made by Rajeevaru's counsel during the hearing, including references to the 2018 Sabarimala row, when the government, following a Supreme Court order, allowed entry of menstruating women into the temple.
Rajeevaru argued that while performing rituals during the period when entry of women of a certain age group was attempted, he had taken a firm stance to preserve temple customs and rituals, refused to allow political interference, and even threatened to refrain from performing religious ceremonies if attempts were made to alter established practices.
"Further attempts by senior police officers, at the behest of the ruling party, to facilitate entry into the Sabarimala temple were prevented by Rajeevaru, who was then the Tantri of the temple," the court order quoted.
He further argued that while attempts were made to keep Sabarimala open on all days, he objected, citing the idol's "Nithya Brahmachari" status.
"This stance also offended many, and Rajeevaru's current implication in two crimes is an act of retaliation to tarnish his reputation and create a narrative that the highest priest is also involved in alleged illegal transactions," his counsel argued.
Rajeevaru maintained that, according to the Travancore Devaswom Board manual, the priest's role is to perform rituals and that he had fulfilled all duties for the deity's sanctity.
"The Tantri is the spiritual engineer in the domain of image worship. The Tantri is responsible for conducting proper poojas and other religious ceremonies according to Sasthras," he argued.
He contended that the alleged misappropriation of gold artifacts was carried out by Travancore Devaswom Board officials with the connivance of certain outsiders, and that the allegations against him were baseless.
He further alleged that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had deliberately diverted the matter by linking him with prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti, in an attempt to counter what he described as his close association with various VIPs.
He said Potti had worked as an assistant to a Keezhshanti and that it was not the Tantri who appointed him.
On the other hand, the SIT maintained that though the temple is managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board, the Tantri has ultimate authority in matters pertaining to customary practices, rituals, and religious ceremonies.
Granting bail to Rajeevaru in the two cases, the court observed that there was "not even an iota of evidence" against him.
"Most importantly, there is nothing on record, not even an iota of evidence from the SIT, to establish any positive involvement on the part of Rajeevaru in the alleged irregularities. The SIT's case regarding criminal conspiracy fails because the petitioner did not sign the crucial mahazars dated July 20, 2019, and May 18, 2019," the court observed.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan in Kochi told reporters that the Vigilance court's bail order in favour of Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru was significant and that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) must clarify the reasons for his arrest.
"The SIT should explain why Rajeevaru was kept in jail for 41 days without appropriate reasons," he said.
He alleged that when the investigation in the Sabarimala gold theft cases was heading towards CPI(M) leaders, the Chief Minister's Office intervened and diverted the probe by arresting Rajeevaru.
"I am not saying that he is innocent. But when a person like Rajeevaru is arrested, his role and the offence he committed should be revealed. That was not done. The same has been said by the court also," Satheesan said.
He urged that the division bench of the Kerala High Court supervising the investigation should examine the reasons for Rajeevaru's arrest.
"The Sabarimala case will end with no evidence remaining and all the accused getting released from jail," he added.
