Kerala: Natesan faces another charge, linked to Sivagiri mutt head’s death

Ramesh is a known rival of Natesan within the Hindu Ezhava community.

He said Swami was murdered by a hired goon named Priyan at the behest of Natesan.

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Swami, head of the Ezhava spiritual centre Sivagiri mutt, was drowned in Periyar river in July, 2002 while he was taking bath near Advaitashramam at Aluva near Kochi. He stayed at the ashramam to take part in a meeting. The mysterious death of Swami occurred after he returned from an extensive tour along with Natesan.

Ramesh alleged that during the Gulf tour, the swami had enquired about accounts of Sree Narayana Trust. Natesan’s son Thushar Vellappally manhandled swami. Subsequently, he cancelled the Gulf tour and returned to India.

Ramesh said after the murder, Natesan had taken away several documents from Sivagiri mutt. Swami was a good swimmer and had been familiar with the bathing ghat. Hence, there was little chance for drowning, said Ramesh.

He said the forensic surgeon Dr M N Soman, who conducted the postmortem on Swami’s body, was later given the post of the president of the SNDP Yogam. Swami died prior to a crucial meeting of Sree Narayana Trust. After Swami’s death, Natesan had gone to his house and went away with various documents.

The hired goon Priyan, mentioned by Biju Ramesh, was involved in the murder of a youth named Praveen in Kottayam a few years back. Praveen was murdered by a Deputy police superintendent Shaji. Following Praveen’s death, his father Pavithran had revealed that his son told him that he had dropped a goon at Aluva on the day Saswathikananda drowned in the river.

Reacting to the allegation, Natesan said several police teams have probed into the death of Saswathikananda and had come into the conclusion that it was a case of drowning. Biju Ramesh is in trouble in the wake of the closure of bars and pressure from the government after he made bribery charges against finance minister K M Mani.

Ramesh needs CPI (M) support. Hence, he is raising the allegation for the CPI (M). Let the CBI probe into the death of the swami. But, I want the CBI probe into the murder of CPI (M) rebel leader T P Chandrasekharan, Natesan told The Indian Express.