Petition accepted for probe into religious leader's death

A court in Kerala on Friday accepted a petition that sought a new probe into the death of Swami Swaswethikananda which was in 2002 seen as a case of drowning.

Petitioner P.D. Joseph approached the Aluva chief magistrate with the petition following fresh allegations that the religious leader was probably murdered.

The court asked the government to file a response and posted the case for October 21.

When he died, the popular Swami had serious differences with V. Natesan, general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Sangom.

A leading businessman, Biju Ramesh, made the fresh allegation about the Swami's murder after Natesan moved closer to the BJP.

Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch P.K. Madhu told the media on Friday that the case was closed after investigation by six different officers of the rank of superintendents.

"But now with fresh revelations, we will be looking into it," he said.

Kerala Police closed the case in 2013 saying the Swami's death took place after he fell down and his head hit the rocks in the river bed, and that there was no foul play.