Thiruvananthapuram: State police chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar has forwarded the crime branch report on the Thrissur Pooram disruption case to the state govt, seeking sanction to prosecute the accused under provisions requiring prior govt approval.The crime branch submitted the report to the police chief last week, eight months after completing its investigation. The delay had fuelled allegations that the findings were deliberately kept under wraps because of political and local pressure, and that the delay was meant to prolong the investigation and postpone further legal action.The case was registered on a govt order. It is reliably learnt that eight people, including office-bearers of the Thiruvambady Devaswom, have been named as accused, and that the charges include attempting to cause a riot, inciting rebellion against govt and promoting enmity between different groups. The enmity charge makes the case particularly significant.According to sources, the investigation team’s principal finding is that prominent office-bearers of Thiruvambady Devaswom were behind the alleged disruption of the Pooram. The accused are also reported to have close links with Congress, CPM and BJP, the state’s three major political parties.The findings carry weight given the political controversy over the disruption of the annual festival, one of Kerala’s biggest public cultural events. The allegations, however, remain to be established through the legal process.With the report now reaching govt, the next step is to provide sanction for prosecution under the relevant provisions before proceeding with the chargesheet.
