Tantri Gave Potty Access to Sabarimala, Not Any Minister: Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar on Monday said that Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold loss case, was granted access to the hill shrine by the tantri (chief priest) and not by any minister.

He made the statement while addressing a gathering at the Martyrs’ Memorial in Palayam here, where the LDF held a day-long protest against the financial blockade by the central government against Kerala.

Kumar said that during the local body elections, the Congress had alleged that Potty was given access to Sabarimala by certain ministers and Devaswom Board members. “Potty was given access by the tantri, not the mantri,” he said, referring to the arrest of chief priest Kandararu Rajeevaru.

He said the finding was made by the Special Investigation Team appointed by the Kerala High Court. Unlike other cases where charge sheets are filed after FIRs are registered, the High Court has been closely monitoring the progress of the investigation into the Sabarimala incident, he added.

“When we say that the thief Potty was brought to Sabarimala by the tantri, some people reject it. They want only those they are targeting to be named as accused,” the minister said.

Ganesh Kumar asserted that the investigation could not be influenced by the state government or the chief minister. “If there is any irregularity in Sabarimala, it will come before the court and the guilty will be punished,” he said.

He said that during the local body elections, he travelled extensively across the state and observed that both the BJP and the Congress focused on a single narrative, Sabarimala. As the probe progresses, it is becoming clear who stole the gold and the vajivahanam from the temple’s sacred flagstaff, he said.

“The UDF and the BJP should apologise to the people of Kerala for misleading them during the elections,” Kumar said.

He added that while the LDF highlighted the government’s development initiatives and the challenges posed by the Centre’s policies, the UDF and BJP attempted to influence voters by evoking religious sentiments.

“In any democracy, or even in a fascist system, religious sentiment is the easiest tool to unleash,” he said.

ganesh Kumar alleged that the BJP and the UDF were trying to divide majority and minority communities to gain power, and accused the UDF of attempting to create chaos in the state for political advantage.

He also claimed that despite winning the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP had failed to introduce notable development projects in other local bodies it previously governed.

The minister said most development funds in the state were being spent by the Kerala government, while the Centre had failed to release its share for several projects.

He demanded that the Congress seek the resignation of Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who was arrested in connection with a sexual assault case and later expelled from the party.

Ganesh Kumar further said that the LDF government was ready to provide sufficient land for establishing an AIIMS in Kerala, but the Centre had yet to grant approval. “Now it looks like we may have to start a hospital with AIIMS-like facilities,” he added.