Just as the BJP was planning a grand entry into the state of Kerala, the mysterious death of a seer thirteen years ago has put its prospective ally in the midst of a huge political controversy.
The incident in question is the death of Swami Saswathikananda, the head of the Sivagiri Mutt, in 2002. BJP’s possible ally SNDP’s general secretary Vellapally Natesan and his son Thushar Vellapally have been accused of killing the seer who belonged to the same Hindu-Ezhava community.
Making repeated allegations is Biju Ramesh, a rival of Vellapally Natesan who has accused the father-son duo of killing the seer.
The latest updates in the saga:
Goon Priyan denies allegations
Priyan, who is alleged by Biju Ramesh to be the contract killer who drowned the seer in the Periyar river, has released a letter to the media. “Please don’t drag me into this. I have been acquitted in a murder case, let me live peacefully. Don’t drag me into this case for someone’s selfish political motives,” Priyan said in the letter.
Explosive revelations by seer’s aide
Adding fuel to the fire and echoing Ramesh’s allegations, a former aide of the slain seer, V Surendran has alleged that Vellapally father-son duo was behind the seer’s death. Surendran has alleged that at a programme by the Sree Narayana Guru Trust in Dubai, Thushar had made an attempt to click a (staged) nude picture of Swami Saswathikananda with a woman. Unable to do so, Thushar apparently had an altercation with the swamy later.
According to Surendran, General Secretary of the Sivagiri Action Council, these revelations were made to him by another seer, Peetatmananda Swami. Surendran has released a letter, purportedly written by Peetatmananda Swami who has been missing ever since, Surendran told the media.
Natesan’s challenge and BJP’s support
Replying to all the sensational allegations, Vellapally Natesan said that if the allegations were proved right, “I would shave my head and go to Kashi in exile.” He has welcomed re-investigation and even a CBI probe.
Meanwhile, O Rajagopal, veteran BJP leader and former Union Minister rubbished demands of a fresh probe saying, “There is no new evidence and it is only the CPI (M) making noise.”