Biju’s revelation on Swamy Saswathikananda’s death raises eyebrows

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bar owner and Sree Narayana Dharma Vedi general secretary Biju Ramesh has revived the mystery over the death of Sivagiri supremo Swamy Saswathikananda on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the infamous police action at Sivagiri Mutt on Sunday.

Mr Ramesh has raised the very serious allegation that the swamy was murdered at the behest of SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan on July 1 2002. 

However, a police official, who probed the case, told DC that there was no foul play behind the drowning. For proof, the autopsy was video-graphed and later submitted in a court.

The swamy died prior to a crucial meeting of Sree Narayana Trust. The mysterious death and Mr Natesan’s alleged role were linked to an ongoing tussle between sanyasis at Sivagiri Mutt. In 1995, Chief Minister A. K. Antony tried to implement a high court order regarding the Mutt but the 500-member police force came under attack from more than 2,000 supporters of Swami Saswathikananda as they tried to facilitate the takeover of the Mutt reins by an elected committee, led by Swamy Prakashananda.

The genesis of the rift goes back to 1994 when six sanyasis, led by Swami Prakashananda, asked Saswathikananda, already in power for 17 years, to honour the outcome of an election and  resign. Saswathikananda quit the mutt, travelled widely and chose to rest at Advaithashram on the banks of Periyar River in Aluva.

On the fateful day, Saswathikananda back from a foreign trip, decided to go for a swim in his favourite bathing spot after a routine tonsure. A police official told DC that the autopsy report revealed that it was a clear case of drowning.

“The swamy was a good swimmer but unfortunately his head hit a rock on the Periyar bank, which proved fatal”, said a police official.

Though it was the then forensic surgeon, Dr M N Soman, it was a lady surgeon who carried out the autopsy.

Incidentally, Dr. Soman was later given the post of the president of the SNDP Yogam, who still holds office.

The crime branch team that probed circumstances leading to the death had initiated proceedings to run a polygraph test on Saswathikananda’s close aide and driver, Subhash and Sabu, respectively.

While the police concluded the case as accidental death, Saswathikananda’s mother Kausalya and other family members cried foul, alleging murder. She had petitioned the High Court for an impartial investigation or handing over the case to the CBI.

An SN Trust source told DC that several people, including Biju Ramesh, had not deposed before the investigating team due to unknown reasons. Swamy Sookshmananda, who had been close to Saswathikananda, was present at his Muttada home in the capital city when Subhash and Sabu were interrogated by the then Aluva Circle Inspector Krishnan Nair.