Thiruvambady Devaswom welcomes rejection of Crime Branch probe report on Thrissur Pooram disruption

Kudamattam of Thrissur Pooram at Thekkinkadu maidan. File

Thiruvambady Devaswom secretary K. Girish Kumar has welcomed the State government’s decision to reject the Crime Branch report on the disruption of Thrissur Pooram, alleging that the investigation had failed to examine the conspiracy behind the incidents.

He said the Devaswom had sought a reinvestigation, and its representatives had met the Home Minister to press for a fresh probe. “The media and everyone else know what happened to the Pooram,” he said.

Citing several incidents, including the closure of the exhibition pavilion and attempts to prevent the umbrellas for the Kudamattam ceremony from being brought to the venue, Mr. Girish Kumar alleged that there had been a conspiracy to disrupt the festival. Despite these incidents, the Thiruvambady Devaswom had been blamed, he said, adding that he was happy that the Home Minister had examined these aspects.

Welcoming the rejection of the report, he questioned the suggestion that the two Devaswams could have deliberately disrupted the festival, pointing out that they incurred substantial expenditure on police security arrangements for the Pooram.

“The report portrayed the innocent as guilty,” he said, criticising the findings.

Describing the investigation as a case of entrusting the key to the thief, he alleged that those responsible for disrupting the Pooram had themselves been entrusted with investigating the incident.

The government returned the Crime Branch investigation report on the Pooram disruption case, citing lack of clarity in its findings. The Home Minister has directed the State Police Chief to submit a fresh report.