6 days ago
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After months of interior statement and mounting governmental pressure, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] connected Monday (June 15, 2026) suspended A. Padmakumar, erstwhile president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and erstwhile Pathanamthitta territory committee subordinate of the party, successful transportation with the Sabarimala golden theft case.
Announcing the decision, CPI(M) territory caput Raju Abraham said the territory committee, successful the beingness of elder leaders T.M. Thomas Isaac and Saji Cherian, had approved the suspension. Holding that the enactment had kept Mr. Padmakumar distant from each organisational responsibilities ever since his sanction surfaced successful the controversy, Mr. Abraham said the suspension would stay successful unit until the peculiar probe squad (SIT) files a chargesheet, which is expected wrong 3 months.
“If the SIT finds immoderate sedate offences against him, the enactment volition beryllium escalated accordingly and if helium is not blameworthy of immoderate specified offences arsenic alleged, the determination volition beryllium reviewed,” Mr. Abraham said.
Growing pressure
The suspension comes amid increasing unit wrong the CPI(M) implicit its handling of the controversy. The contented figured prominently during the party’s caller State committee gathering that reviewed its Assembly predetermination setback, wherever leaders concluded that the nonaccomplishment to enactment against Mr. Padmakumar had besides contributed to the electoral debacle. The State enactment subsequently near it to the Pathanamthitta territory committee to determine the disciplinary action.
The gathering had assumed value amid speculation that disciplinary enactment against Mr. Padmakumar could trigger disclosures that mightiness enactment the enactment connected the defensive.
Speaking to reporters aft the meeting, however, Dr. Isaac rejected suggestions that the enactment had settled for suspension retired of fearfulness of a backlash. “The allegations of him being taken distant from Sabarimala to facilitate the introduction of women person already been addressed by erstwhile Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself. The enactment is not acrophobic astir Mr. Padmakumar penning an autobiography either,” helium said.
Explanation not satisfactory
According to him, the suspension had been initiated due to the fact that the mentation earlier furnished by Mr. Padmakumar to the enactment was not satisfactory. “Based connected the chargesheet to beryllium filed by the SIT, the enactment volition beryllium seeking explanations connected the circumstantial charges levelled against him,” helium added.
Mr. Padmakumar was serving arsenic a subordinate of the CPI(M) Pathanamthitta territory committee erstwhile helium was arraigned arsenic an accused successful the case. The SIT subsequently recorded his apprehension successful some the cases linked to the controversy.
He is presently retired connected bail aft spending astir three-and-a-half months successful jail.
