Thiruvananthapuram/Kannur, February 22 The arrest of Sabarimala Tantri Kadararu Rajeevaru in the gold theft case triggered a fresh round of accusations and counter-accusations in Kerala on Sunday, with the opposition Congress alleging that the chief priest was "deliberately framed" in the case, while the ruling CPI(M) said he was "involved in a list of major thefts".
Responding to the BJP's claim that the arrest was intended to divert attention from the alleged involvement of current and former Devaswom Ministers, state Law Minister P Rajeev said there were "unusual aspects" in the Vigilance Court order granting bail to the chief priest.
Recent observations by the Kollam Vigilance Court that there was no evidence against Rajeevaru in the case led to renewed political debate in the state, with opposition parties targeting the state government.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the Tantri was "deliberately framed" in the gold theft case and suspected political interference in his arrest.
Speaking at a press conference, he claimed that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), investigating the case, was being controlled by the Chief Minister's Office, and that Rajeevaru was arrested to prevent the investigation from reaching "key individuals".
The Kollam Vigilance court, which had granted bail to the Tantri, clearly stated that there was no evidence against him. "Therefore, we should assume that the Sabarimala Tantri was deliberately framed in the case. It is clear that there was a political intervention to arrest him," he alleged.
He further alleged that though there was clear evidence to arrest certain "key individuals", no action had been taken so far.
The Tantri was arrested and jailed to divert the course of the investigation and to prevent it from reaching Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan and former minister Kadakampally Surendran, he said.
He also accused former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P S Prasanth of "serious lapses" in connection with the gold theft issue. However, he was questioned secretly and let go, he said.
The decision to sabotage the SIT probe was taken at a higher level after the ruling LDF suffered a massive defeat in the recent LSGD elections, he alleged.
People of the state would give a befitting reply to what he termed as "political misuse" of the case.
Echoing similar views, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said the arrest of Sabarimala Tantri without any evidence raises questions about the credibility of the SIT.
He also sought to know whether Rajeevaru was arrested out of vengeance for his firm stance against the Left government's attempt to allow entry of women belonging to the barred age group into the Sabarimala shrine.
BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar also blamed the Left government in the matter and alleged that the Tantri's arrest was a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the alleged involvement of present Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan and former minister Kadakampally Surendran.
CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan, however, rejected the opposition allegations and asserted that no one involved in the matter would be protected.
Speaking to reporters in Kannur, he said the SIT probe is yet to be completed and claimed that Congress leaders also have a role in the alleged gold theft.
He alleged that certain political parties were attempting to use the issue to target the CPI(M) and the state government, adding that "news becomes news only when it is against the CPI(M) and the government, but not when it is against the BJP or the Congress".
Responding to the allegations that the arrest of Rajeevaru was linked to his opposition to women's entry at the hill shrine, Govindan said the Tantri figures in the "list of major thefts" and asserted that no one involved in the matter would be protected.
The law would take its own course, he said, adding that not "a speck of gold" from Sabarimala should go missing.
Asked about the court observations granting bail to the Tantri, Minister Rajeev said there were some unusual aspects involved in it.
"If a High Court division bench has observed that the investigation is proceeding in the right direction, it is not usual for a lower court, while considering a bail plea, to make observations that appear like a final verdict in the case," he told media in Kochi.
He said such powers can be exercised by the Supreme Court.
"While reading the order, those with a basic understanding of law may feel that the Vigilance Court has adopted an approach akin to that of the Supreme Court, but the minister further said, the actual power lies with the High Court division bench."
Rajeev further said that unlike in other cases, the state government was not exercising any supervisory role in the matter and that decisions such as whether to file an appeal against the bail order did not come before the government.
"The High Court division bench is monitoring all aspects related to the case," he said, adding that reports on the progress of the investigation and regarding each arrest in the case had been submitted before it by the SIT.
The vigilance court in Kollam on Wednesday granted bail to Rajeevaru in the cases related to alleged misappropriation of gold from the Lord Ayyappa shrine.
