'Arrest, revenge for opposing women's Sabarimala entry': Tantri in bail plea, court says cops acted with nil evidence
A Sabarimala tantri's arrest in a gold scam was deemed unjustified by a court, which found the police investigation lacked evidence and suggested political motivation.Summary
The Sabarimala gold scam investigation led to the arrest of Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru in January 2026, despite initial questioning suggesting no involvement. He was later accused of misappropriation of gold, but the Vigilance court dismissed the charges, finding the SIT’s case weak and based on flawed timelines and unsubstantiated claims.
Rajeevaru argued his arrest was retaliation for his strong opposition to women's entry into the Sabarimala shrine in 2018, claiming he had thwarted attempts by police to facilitate entry at the behest of the ruling government. While the court didn’t explicitly rule on these accusations, it found no evidence linking him to the gold scam. The SIT’s attempts to establish a connection between Rajeevaru and another accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, were also debunked due to incorrect timelines and Potty’s existing connections within the temple.
The court specifically noted that Rajeevaru was the only one who accurately identified copper coverings as formerly gold-plated, a fact suppressed in official reports. Furthermore, the court ruled that he was not required to obtain consent for the removal of door frames and that his financial transactions, while substantial, were normal given his position and the temple’s popularity. Ultimately, the court found 'nil evidence' to support the charges against the tantri.
(Source：Malayala Manorama)
