Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru turns against govt, says arrest is revenge for opposing women’s entry in Sabarimala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: More information has emerged from the bail plea filed by Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, who was recently released from jail in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The Tantri alleged that his arrest in the gold theft case is revenge for opposing women’s entry in Sabarimala. He also said that he thwarted government's move to turn Sabarimala into a temple that is open every day.

The Tantri’s main argument is that the arrest is an act of revenge against him. He claimed that some police officers tried to allow women to enter Sabarimala in order to please the ruling party and that he had stopped them. He said that he had made it clear that political interference in temple affairs would not be allowed. 'When there were attempts to allow women to enter, I had warned that the pujas would be stopped and that would come out of the temple. Moreover, the government planned to make Sabarimala a temple that opens every day. That attempt also failed. These are the reasons for taking revenge,' clarified the Tantri.

The Tantri also levelled allegations against the special investigation team in his bail plea. The bail plea also alleged that the investigation team concealed certain things to make it appear that he was the one who brought Unnikrishnan Potty, the main accused in the case to Sabarimala.

‘The post of the Tantri is limited only to the rituals and pujas of the temple. He has no legal authority in the administrative matters or management of the temple's properties. According to the devaswom manual, the protection and accounting of the temple’s valuable items and sacred ornaments are the sole responsibility of the devaswom commissioner and other officials. I have no legal obligation to prevent administrative irregularities. Therefore, not responding to such matters cannot be seen as a criminal conspiracy,' Kantararu Rajeevaru said in his bail plea.

Meantime, the Kollam Vigilance Court granted bail after the special investigation team was unable to produce any evidence against the Tantri in the case. The order clarified that the devaswom board is responsible for safeguarding many including the gold sheets and things related to rituals are the responsibility of the Tantri.