Guruvayur, Kerala Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan has asked the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to withdraw a recent circular appointing officials facing probe in the Sabarimala gold loss case to key positions in the board.
Muraleedharan said he had written to TDB president K Jayakumar on Saturday seeking the withdrawal of the circular.
He stated that the board has independent powers and the government cannot directly interfere in its decisions, but he has demanded the withdrawal of the circular.
The minister said he believed Jayakumar, though appointed by the previous LDF government, was functioning impartially.
However, if the circular is not corrected, the state government will assume that the current board also has involvement in the gold loss incident, he added.
Muraleedharan also stated that the Devaswom Department could decide on further action in the gold loss case only after the Special Investigation Team files its charge sheets in the two cases.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said media reports regarding former TDB president A Padmakumar's purported revelations did not warrant a fresh probe.
Chennithala noted that Padmakumar, who was arrested by the SIT, had secured statutory bail after 90 days in custody.
