Pinarayi Vijayan Suspects Sabotage in Sabarimala Gold Theft case; Raises Questions Over Special Pleader Appointment

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed suspicion that moves are afoot behind the scenes to derail the Sabarimala gold theft case, pointing to the appointment of K B Pradeep — counsel forone of the accused in the case — as Special Pleader of the Devaswom Department as a deeply questionable act carried out with undue haste. Speaking at a press conference, Pinarayi made clear that the matter cannot be considered closed merely because Pradeep has since resigned from the post.

The special investigation team probing the case had earlier established the involvement of Smart Creations, leading to the arrest of Pankaj Bhandari and others. Pradeep, as counsel for Smart Creations, had argued both in court and publicly that his client had no part in the case. Appointing the very lawyer who championed the accused's position as the Devaswom Department's Special Pleader, he said, was a suspicious move.

The Opposition Leader also questioned whether standard procedural norms were followed in the appointment — a process that ordinarily requires a recommendation from the Advocate General, scrutiny by the Law Department, approval by the Chief Minister, and clearance by the Cabinet. He demanded to know what prompted the unusual urgency with which the appointment was pushed through.

He further stressed that Pradeep's resignation does not draw a line under the matter. What files and documents reached his hands from the moment he was appointed — particularly any sensitive Devaswom Department records relating to the case — is a question of critical importance, he said. The Opposition Leader called for a thorough investigation into whether any crucial documents in the department's possession were accessed or shared with the lawyer during his brief tenure, and demanded that if such documents are found in his possession, appropriate legal action must follow without delay.