Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V. D. Satheesan, on Tuesday accused two senior IPS officers of deliberately obstructing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the Sabarimala gold theft case.
Satheesan claimed that the SIT investigation, which was expected to yield decisive results, has now come to a standstill. According to him, the stagnation is not due to a lack of evidence or procedural hurdles but “active interference” by senior police officials.
“For some time now, the SIT probe has hit a dead end. Two senior IPS officers are doing everything possible to sabotage the investigation,” he alleged.
The Opposition leader said that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had exercised restraint so far in the larger public interest but warned that patience was wearing thin. “At this moment, I want to caution these officers to desist from such actions. If they do not mend their ways, we will be forced to publicly name them,” Satheesan stated, emphasising that the matter has now moved beyond internal administration to one of public accountability.
Satheesan further accused the Pinarayi Vijayan government of shielding influential figures and failing to ensure an independent and credible investigation into the alleged gold smuggling and theft linked to Sabarimala offerings.
He reiterated the Opposition’s long-standing claim that the case carries serious ramifications, involving lapses at multiple levels, and demanded that the probe be allowed to proceed without pressure or manipulation.
The case has been politically sensitive, with the Opposition repeatedly alleging systemic failures and deliberate attempts to derail the investigation. Satheesan added that the “government's silence in the face of serious allegations against senior police officers only deepened public suspicion.”
He asserted, “If the government has nothing to hide, it should ensure that the SIT functions freely and transparently.”
The Opposition leader made it clear that the UDF would intensify its campaign if the investigation continued to stagnate.
With IANS inputs