Kerala SIC directs to provide replies on IPS officer’s death
26 Jul, 2012In response to an appeal filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the State Information Commission (SIC) of Kerala has directed the Kerala police to provide answers within three weeks. The applicant had sought reasons into the death of the retired IPS officer TP Sundara Rajan who was instrumental in opening the treasure vaults of the famous Sree Padmanbhaswamy temple in Kerala which is said to contain wealth valued over Rs 1,00,000 crore. The applicant had asked the Kerala police:
- Why a post-mortem was not conducted though Rajan died in mysterious circumstances on July 17, 2011?
- Did the officer face any threat from the temple authorities as he had knocked on Supreme Court’s doors to get the temple chambers opened?
TP Sundara Rajan’s writ petition had culminated in the opening of the temple's vaults and the last of the temple’s six cellars was opened on July 2, 2011. Rajan was one of the seven members of the committee appointed by the court to oversee the opening of the vaults and as an inventory of the temple’s assets was being prepared, he breathed his last on July 17, 2011. The RTI application was filed on July 20, 2011 by an applicant who suspected foul play in Rajan’s death as his move regarding the temple’s assets had earned him many enemies.