Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 10: Sasthamangalam councillor and former Director General of Police (DGP) R Sreelekha on Saturday came out in support of Sabarimala Tanthri Kandararu Rajeevaru, who was arrested a day earlier in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case, triggering fresh controversy.

In a Facebook post, Sreelekha said she has known Kandararu Rajeevaru for over three decades and asserted that he would never knowingly do anything that would harm Lord Ayyappa or violate temple traditions. Stating that she was “100 per cent sure” about his integrity, she appealed to devotees to remain vigilant and closely observe the direction in which the case was progressing.

“I have known Sabarimala Tanthri Kandararu Rajeevaru for over 30 years. I am certain that he would never knowingly do anything that would harm Lord Ayyappa or the temple traditions. 100% sure. I request the devotees to keep their eyes open and see where this case is heading,” she wrote.

Questioning the course of the investigation, the former top police officer expressed concern over the delay in recovering the alleged stolen gold, despite the probe having been underway for a considerable period.

“It has been so long. Where is the Lord’s gold? Without even seizing it, for whose sake is this arrest being made, alleging a violation of rituals?” she asked in the post.

Sreelekha’s remarks quickly sparked intense discussion and debate on social media, drawing mixed reactions from devotees and the public. However, amid the backlash and growing controversy, she later withdrew the Facebook post.

The arrest of the Sabarimala Tanthri in the gold theft case has already evoked strong reactions across Kerala, with the issue continuing to generate heated public discourse.