Kerala police exhume body of man who attained 'samadhi'

    Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 16 (PTI) The police on Thursday exhumed the body of a 69-year-old man whose family claimed he had attained 'samadhi,' near Neyyattinkara in the capital district, and conducted a postmortem as part of an investigation into his mysterious death.
    According to the initial postmortem findings, the cause of death appears to be natural, the police said. However, they added that a detailed postmortem report and the results of a chemical examination of his internal organs, expected next week, are awaited.
    The statements of Gopan Swami’s family members will be recorded again as part of the ongoing investigation, police said.
    After the postmortem conducted at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, the body was handed over to the family by noon. It was then shifted to the mortuary of a private hospital in Neyyattinkara.
    The cremation is scheduled for Friday morning, following religious rituals, according to relatives.
    "Gopan Swami's body will be cremated on the premises of his residence, with a grand ceremony to be attended by religious leaders," said Vaikunta Swamy Dharma Pracharana Sabha (VSDP) chairman Vishnupuram Chandrasekharan.
    However, Gopan's son, Sanandan, urged action against those who attempted to block his father’s 'samadhi'.
    "As per Hindu belief, our father attained 'samadhi,' and legal action will be initiated against those who attempted to hurt our belief," he told the media.
    On Thursday morning, under tight security, the Neyyattinkara police unearthed the grave and recovered the body, which was reportedly identified as that of Gopan Swami.
    After completing the inquest proceedings, the body was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital for a postmortem examination.
    The police deployed a large contingent of personnel and a medical team led by a forensic surgeon to ensure security during the exhumation.
    During the process, the body was discovered in a sitting position, along with several pooja items, including 'vibhuti' (sacred ash), inside the grave, according to police sources.


"We held talks with the family members and shifted the body for a postmortem examination," said Thiruvananthapuram Sub-Collector Alfred O V.

    Addressing media, he confirmed that the body would be handed back to the family after the examination, and further investigations would follow.
    The exhumation was temporarily halted earlier in the week following protests from family members and residents. Subsequently, the family approached the Kerala High Court to stop the exhumation, but the court declined to interfere.
    The court ruled that investigative agencies have the authority to probe cases involving missing persons or deaths under suspicious circumstances. It also observed that there appeared to be suspicious elements in the matter, warranting further investigation.
    The Neyyattinkara police had received orders from the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) to exhume the body, which was buried under suspicious circumstances, for a postmortem examination.
    The incident came to light after posters near the man’s residence proclaimed, "Gopan Swami has attained samadhi."
    The police registered a missing case and initiated the exhumation following complaints from residents alleging foul play.
    Gopan Swami’s son, Rajasenan, claimed that his father walked to the burial site around 11:30 pm last Friday and entered samadhi.
    He told the media that his father had instructed the family to keep his body away from public view and bury it at the designated site.
    The burial site was specially prepared by Gopan Swami, a priest who had also established a temple on his property at Kavuvilakam in Neyyattinkara.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)