Saswathikananda death: HC says let Crime Branch go on with the probe

Kochi: The High Court Thursday examined the video and photographs of postmortem of the body of former Sivagiri mutt head Swami Saswathikananda and observed that at present it cannot find any irregularity in the autopsy.

Considering two PILs seeking CBI investigation and further probe into the case, Justice B Kemal Pasha permitted continuance of the present investigation by the Crime Branch.

The Director General of Prosecution informed the court that even though it was held that the death of Swami on July 1, 2002 was due to accidental drowning, still police had not concluded anything in the matter.

Investigation into the actual cause of death was still continuing, the official said adding so far nobody had filed a concrete complaint alleging murder in the case.

Kerala government had on October 31 last year announced further investigation into the death of the Swami following a crime branch report, citing new "revelations" in the case.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had said the decision was taken after the crime branch examined the "revelations" made on the Swami's death and was convinced that the case qualified for further investigation.

Kerala Bar Hotel Owners Association Working President Biju Ramesh, also leader of Sree Narayana Dharam Vedi, rival to SNDP, an organisation of backward Ezhava community headed by Vellapally Natesan, had alleged that the swami was murdered and that Natesan and his son Thushar had a role in it.

Dismissing the charges as baseless, Natesan had said he was ready to face any probe but maintained that the swami's death was a 'jal samadhi'.