PAMPA: Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan’s vehicle was stopped by the police while he was returning from Sabarimala. One of the cars that was accompanying the minister’s car was stopped by the police near Pampa KSRTC stand at 1:30 am on Thursday. The minister was travelling in a private car. There were two other cars escorting him. The police stopped one of these cars to check whether any protesters are in the car. The minister had to stay there for thirty minutes. The police wrote an apology letter to the minister when he sought an explanation for this. However, Pathanamthitta SP clarified that no apology was given to the minister. An explanation was given by the police and it was just standard procedure, SP said. The police have come forward with the CCTV visuals revealing that the car was not part of minister’s convoy.

Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan reached Sabarimala with BJP leaders on Wednesday. He had visited the temple and evaluated the arrangements made for the devotees. BJP had staged a protest on Wednesday alleging that SP Yatish Chandra misbehaved with the minister.