The death of Swami Saswathikananda of Ezhava spiritual centre, Sivagiri, might be re-investigated as bar owner and Sree Narayana Dharma Vedi general secretary Biju Ramesh has come forward with a revelation.
Biju says the Swami was murdered by a professional killer Priyan on the request of SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan.
Following the revelation, political parties in Kerala have demanded a re-investigation into the case.
CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan and former BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai have demanded the state government should re-investigate the case based on Biju's claims.
BJP State President V Muraleedharan has stated that there is a clear political agenda behind the mysterious death of the Hindu priest.
Meanwhile, home minister Ramesh Chennithala has asked the crime branch to submit a detailed report on the case to find if the latest revelation by Biju was examined earlier by the investigators.
Sivagiri Swami Saswathikananda's death : What we know so far
Swami Saswathikananda was found dead in Periyar river near Advaitashramam in Aluva on 1 July 2002; he was initially believed to have drowned.
Many had doubted the 'drowning theory' due to the big wound found on his forehead and there were claims that the body would have floated if he had drowned. However, the postmortem report claimed it was a clear case of drowning; this led to the closure of the case as the investigators couldn't find any foul play in it.
When the Swami's assistants Subhash and Sabu were directed to go through a polygraph test, Sabu had tried to avoid the lie-detector test by approaching the Supreme Court.
Swami Prakashanandha, the present head of Sivagiri mutt, also claims that Swami Saswathikananda's death was unnatural as he was a good swimmer, who was familiar with the bathing ghat.
"There was a deep wound on Saswathikananda's forehead. I was told then that the wound was caused by a rod which was used to fish out the body from the waters. But I was certain it was not caused due to that," Prakashanandha told Mathrubhumi News.
Meanwhile, Saswathikananda's sister Santha has decided to write a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy requesting a CBI probe in the case.
"I doubt that Vellapally Natesan's request for a CBI probe is to sabotage the investigation. I have decided to write to the CM and the Home Minister seeking a polygraph test on Vellapally and his son," Santha said, according to Deccan Chronicle.
