THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Crime Branch had decided to file the closure report in the Swami Saswathikananda death case in 2013 after appraising the family members of the Swami as well as other aggrieved parties of its conclusion that it was a drowning case, but none of them had raised any objections, it is learnt.
Former Crime Branch SP K.G. Simon, who filed the closure report, also denied the allegations of bar owner Biju Ramesh that his statement was not recorded.
“Though we had contacted Biju Ramesh a couple of times after he raised the allegations regarding the death of Saswathikananda, he was reluctant. Finally, one of our officials met him at his office in Thiruvananthapuram and took his statement on record,” said Mr. Simon who is the present Thrissur city police commissioner.
Reacting to the fresh 'revelations' of Saswathikananda's sister Santha on driver Praveen dropping hitman Priyan at Aluva Ashram, Mr. Simon said that we decided to close the case after informing Saswathikananda's family members and other aggrieved parties of our conclusion.
None of them had raised any objections or made any revelations at that time. Moreover, even Praveen and Priyan were also quizzed, he said.
Apart from scientific reports and eyewitness accounts of driver Sabu, some children who were bathing in the Periyar at that time had also given witness account that no one else was spotted at the place during the time of the incident.
The bruises on the forehead of Swamy might have been caused during the efforts to locate and fish out his body. Though Swami was said to be good in swimming, the chances of swimmers getting fatigued due to swimming or losing balance in swirl could not be ruled out, he said.
