Kochi: Alleged hitman P.P. Priyan has moved Kerala High Court seeking a CBI probe into the death of Swami Saswathikananda, former head of Sivagiri Mutt.
Priyan sought a directive to register a crime against bar owner Biju Ramesh, who had alleged that Priyan had killed the Swami on the orders of SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan and his son Thushar Vellappally.
Priyan argued that the allegations were baseless and that he had no role in the case. He submitted that the Crime Branch had filed the final report in the case in 2013 after interrogating him thrice.
The case was being used as a tool by the UDF to divert public attention from the bar bribery case against Finance Minister K.M. Mani, he said.
The state ordered a probe into the Swami’s death after taking the statements of Biju Ramesh last Friday. According to sources, Biju had told the CB about the persons who were with him when Priyan made the alleged revelation.
A further investigation into the case was ordered on the eve of the elections to the local bodies. According to the petitioner, the role of the present investigating agency in the case and the political involvement demanded a CBI probe.
The officers of the state police were biased and they would not conduct the probe properly, he argued. The court would consider the plea on Tuesday.
