Swami Himaval BhadranandaThiruvananthapuram: Controversial spiritual leader Swami Himaval Bhadrananda, who was arrested from a protest venue here last week, said he had no links with the strike staged by late engineering student Jishnu Pranoy's relatives.
Bhadrananda, who was released on bail along with four others on Tuesday, said he was about to meet state police chief Loknath Behera when he was rounded up.
"I was in Thiruvananthapuram to lodge a complaint with the DGP against the unholy nexus between the police and drug mafia in Kochi. A similar complaint with the Kochi police commissioner had not yielded any result. The DGP had even given me an appointment. Apart from this I had also received a notice from the vigilance department regarding a complaint I had given to the secretariat," Bhadrananda told reporters.
Bhadrananda said the police told him that he was arrested because his involvement would strengthen the case. "Am I some adhesive or cement to strengthen the case," he asked taking a jibe at the cops.
Bhadrananda earned notoriety and the sobriquet Thokku Swami in 2008 after he threatened to shoot himself at the Aluva circle inspector’s office following complaints against him.
On Friday, Bhadrananda was arrested along with activist K.M. Shahjahan, SUCI leaders Shajarkhan, Mini Shajarkhan and Sreekumar from the police headquarters compound where Jishnu's mother Mahija and relatives were staging a protest seeking speedy arrest of the accused in the case relating to her son's death.
IG Manoj Abraham in his report had said the four people along with the protesters had come to the police headquarters intentionally to create tension.
While the SUCI leaders were part of the protest, Bhadrananda had nothing to do with it.
Shajarkhan and Mini on Tuesday alleged that they were arrested as part of a conspiracy by the government.
Shajahan said he was arrested as chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan holds a grudge against him. Shajahan, who had served as additional private secretary to V.S. Achuthanandan when he was the CM, said he will spend the rest of his life to give a fitting reply to Pinarayi's arrogant attitude.
