‘If Kerala CM has any shame, he must refer Sabarimala gold theft case to CBI’, says BJP State chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has demanded that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan refer the investigation into the Sabarimala gold theft case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

“If the Chief Minister has even an iota of shame and sincerity, he should hand over the probe to the CBI,” Mr. Chandrasekhar said at a press conference on Thursday (February 5, 2026).

He was accompanied by Sabu M. Jacob, president of Twenty20, the Kitex Group-backed political outfit that recently joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Mr. Chandrasekhar alleged a conspiracy to “sabotage the investigation and weaken the case”, something he said he had predicted as early as October 3.

Expressing distrust in the special investigation team (SIT) of the police, Mr. Chandrasekhar questioned whether the force under Mr. Vijayan, who is also the Home Minister, would have the courage to investigate CPI(M) leaders, including Ministers, allegedly involved in the case. When pointed out that the Kerala High Court had expressed satisfaction with the SIT’s investigation, he countered, “If the Chief Minister has nothing to hide, why not refer the case to an independent agency?”

‘A case of police and thief rolled into one’

Mr. Jacob echoed the criticism, describing the SIT as “a case of police and thief rolled into one,” since the police are “not independent of” the government.

He argued that the court had not conducted an independent probe but had relied on documents provided by the SIT. “Just as I have challenged any investigative agency to probe or file a case against me to prove alleged FEMA violations, why not the Chief Minister refer this case to the CBI?” he asked.

Mr. Jacob further called for removing politicians from the administration of places of worship and handing control over to devotees.

Mr. Chandrasekhar dismissed claims that Kerala was ignored in the Union Budget. He cited a 38% increase in tax devolution to the State and a more than 100% rise in grants-in-aid to ₹26,500 crore as proofs. He accused the Kerala government of sabotaging a potential ₹600 crore investment for an Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) hospital in Kollam.

He also blamed the government for Kerala not being allocated an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), questioning why the Chief Minister failed to raise the matter with the Centre during his multiple visits to Delhi in the past six months.

Mr. Chandrasekhar assured that the Centre would extend full support to the proposed high-speed rail project once the detailed project report is completed.