'CPM-Congress Kuruva gang behind Sabarimala gold theft; Tantri's arrest dubious'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged a CPM-Congress nexus behind the Sabarimala gold theft case. Equating the nexus with the notorious Kuruva gang, the BJP state chief alleged that the SIT proceedings are far-fetched and highlighted the role played by big politicians in the incident. Rajeev doubted the arrest of Tantri was a distraction, or rather a smokescreen to save other leaders involved in the crime.

Former state president K Surendran alleged that SIT is hesitant to arrest former minister Kadakampally Surendran despite having all kinds of evidence against him.

"The Tantri is not the custodian of all the items in the temple. It is the Devaswom Board. The Tantri is the head of rituals. If a case is to be filed for violating the rituals, SIT would have to start with Pinarayi Vijayan. It is doubtful whether the arrest was a move to overcome the public sentiment against CPM in the local body elections," Surendran said.

This morning, BJP leaders reached the house of Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru. At 11 am, local BJP leaders, including BJP Alappuzha South District President Sandeep Vachaspati, reached Tantri’s house in Chengannur. It is reported that the BJP leaders arrived to express their support for the Tantri. However, Sandeep Vachaspati told the media that the Tantri's house is under the jurisdiction of his party unit, and so the visit. There was widespread propaganda on pro-BJP social media pages that the Tantri was being made a scapegoat in the incident.