RSS seeks inquiry into Kottayam youth’s suicide, denies allegations

NEW DELHI: RSS has demanded a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the death of 26-year-old Aji from Elikkulam in Kottayam district, calling the incident “sad and unfortunate.” Anandu, a native of Ponkunnam in Kottayam, was found dead in a hotel room in Thampanoor, Thiruvananthapuram, last week. Following his death, a scheduled Instagram post surfaced in which he accused certain RSS functionaries of sexual and physical abuse during his childhood.

The organisation has dismissed as “dubious and baseless” the allegations made against it in a social media post that appeared shortly after Anandu’s death.

In a statement issued by Saha Prantha Karyavah of Dakshina Keralam, K B Sreekumar said: “The unnatural death of Anandu Aji, one of our Swayamsevaks from Elikkulam in Kottayam District, is very much sad and unfortunate. Since several years his family is associated with Sangh. Anandu’s father Late Aji was a Karyakartha of Sangh. At this sad and unfortunate moment we firmly stand with the family ...”

The organisation has also called for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged suicide note that surfaced on Instagram and other social-media platforms soon after Anandu’s death. The note contains what the RSS describes as “dubious and baseless allegations” against the Sangh.

In a written petition filed with the district police, the RSS stated: “We are of firm opinion that an independent enquiry will not only help to bring out the real cause of his unnatural death, but also ensure the innocence of RSS in this unfortunate incident.”

Police officials said that the investigation team would soon record statements from the family and friends of the deceased.

The allegations have sparked political reactions, with Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanding a high-level investigation. “If true, the allegations are horrifying. The RSS leadership must take immediate action and come clean,” she wrote on X.

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