BJP Demands CBI Intervention in Sabarimala Gold Theft, Accuses Kerala Government of Investigation Sabotage

In a significant escalation of political tensions surrounding the Sabarimala temple gold theft case, BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar has issued a formal demand for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to refer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Chandrasekhar's statement alleges a deliberate conspiracy within the state administration to 'sabotage the investigation and systematically weaken the case,' raising serious questions about procedural integrity. This development represents a calculated political maneuver by the BJP to challenge the ruling Left Democratic Front's handling of sensitive religious matters, particularly at Kerala's most prominent pilgrimage site. The demand carries substantial weight given the temple's national significance and the substantial value of the stolen assets. Chandrasekhar's invocation of 'shame' as a moral imperative for the Chief Minister frames the issue as both an administrative failure and an ethical breach, potentially resonating with the temple's devout constituency. This confrontation reflects broader political strategies ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, where religious institutions have become focal points for opposition challenges against state governance. The BJP's positioning seeks to capitalize on perceived investigative shortcomings while testing the ruling coalition's commitment to transparent judicial processes in matters of religious property security.