Kerala CMO interfering in Sabarimala SIT probe through IPS officers, alleges Congress

The Congress on Tuesday (December 23, 2025) levelled grave charges against Kerala Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in connection with the ongoing special investigation team (SIT) probe into the Sabarimala gold loss case and accused it of interfering with the investigation through intermediaries.

While talking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan alleged that two IPS officers were assigned by the CMO to “exert intense pressure” on the SIT that probes the case.

He said the Opposition was refraining from naming the officers concerned “only out of propriety”, but warned that he would be compelled to disclose their identities if they did not stop exerting pressure upon investigating officers.

Stressing the need for a sincere and impartial investigation, he said the Opposition was closely monitoring the probe and would point out any lapses in the investigation.

Mr. Satheesan said the investigation would now move forward in the right direction only because of the High Court’s intervention. He clarified that the Opposition had not so far expressed any lack of confidence in the SIT and said he expected “the real culprits” to be brought before the law at the earliest.

Mr. Satheesan said the Opposition would wait for a few more days to assess how the SIT probe progresses and cautioned that the situation should not reach a stage where a CBI investigation becomes inevitable.

He alleged that it was only because the probe was under court scrutiny that it was moving forward to some extent. Otherwise, he claimed, the investigation would have “gone nowhere.”

“Had the probe remained entirely under the government’s control, key accused such as former TDB (Travancore Devaswom Board) chiefs A. Padmakumar and N. Vasu would not have been arrested,” he said.

The SIT is probing the loss of gold and related complaints. Several persons, including two past presidents of the TDB, have been arrested in this regard. The SIT recently told a Vigilance court that Pankaj Bhandari of Smart Creations and Ballari-based jeweller Govardhan Roddam played a central role in a conspiracy to steal gold from artefacts of the Sabarimala temple. The SIT on Friday arrested both Mr. Bhandari and Mr. Roddam.