Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V.D. Satheesan, criticized the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for allegedly weakening the Sabarimala gold smuggling case by not filing a charge sheet within 90 days. This delay allowed senior CPI-M leader A. Padmakumar to secure bail. Satheesan claimed that the SIT, with support from the Chief Minister’s Office, facilitated this outcome.
Noting that 8 out of 13 jailed individuals in the case have now obtained bail, Satheesan expressed concern that influential accused persons could tamper with evidence. He warned that the case might lose momentum and accountability with these developments.
Satheesan further alleged that all those implicated in the case had ties to the CPI-M and criticized the probe for not extending to certain individuals who he believed should have been arrested. He accused the investigation of shielding the real culprits and claimed there was a conspiracy to protect those involved.
Questioning the investigation’s integrity, Satheesan highlighted the failure to file a preliminary charge sheet within the statutory deadline. He also criticized the arrest of the temple thantri without clear charges being made public, stating that the SIT’s credibility could be at risk if such actions persist.
In a related update, temple thantri Kantarar Rajeevar, who was granted bail last month, appeared before Enforcement Directorate officials in Kochi for a case they had initiated.
