The arrest of Sabarimala Temple chief priest Kandararu Rajeevaru in connection with the alleged gold misappropriation case has ignited a major political controversy in Kerala. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala accused the state government of targeting the priest to divert attention from influential individuals allegedly involved in the crime.
Chennithala questioned why Rajeevaru remained in jail for 41 days despite receiving bail and pointed to court observations stating there was no evidence against him. The Congress has also demanded the resignation of Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan and staged protests, alleging political interference in the investigation.
The case relates to the alleged loss of gold from temple structures, including Dwarapalaka idols and Sreekovil door frames. The Special Investigation Team claimed Rajeevaru was aware of the removal of gold plates in 2019 without proper procedure and failed to report it.
Congress leaders, including KC Venugopal, alleged the probe was politically motivated and intended to protect senior leaders such as Kadakampally Surendran. However, the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) has denied the allegations, maintaining that the priest was named among key accused based on the investigation.
The controversy has intensified political tensions, with opposition parties demanding accountability and transparency in the probe.
