Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala police on Thursday exhumed the body of a temple priest whose mysterious death had sparked controversy and tension at Aralumoodu in Neyyatinkara, Thiruvananthapuram. The family of the priest, Gopan Swami, stuck posters on compound walls on January 10 which said that Swami had attained 'Samadhi'. This piqued the curiosity of residents, who raised concerns over the nature of death, and the family replied that the body was interred in a concrete chamber as per the wish of Gopan Swami. Neyyatinkara police had filed a missing case based on a complaint. 

A heavy posse of police arrived early in the morning and cordoned off the area, anticipating protests. The body, which was partially putrefied, was found seated inside the chamber stacked with sacred ash and ritualistic objects, reported Manorama News. The inquest procedures were conducted near the burial site, and the body was subsequently shifted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital for postmortem. The district administration approved the exhumation after the Kerala High Court on Wednesday refused to stay the process, as requested by the family.

Forensic and fingerprint experts were present at the site. The exhumation and related procedures were completed in the presence of RDO Alfred OV. Earlier, attempts to exhume the body on Monday were met with protests from the family and some religious organisations, who argued that the process violated their beliefs and practices. In response, the family sought relief from the High Court, which ultimately ruled in favour of the investigation.

Justice CS Dias, who considered the petition, stated that investigation agencies are authorised to probe cases involving suspicious deaths or missing persons. According to the plea, the deceased, known as Gopan Swami, was a former headload worker who practised sainthood, established an ashram, and constructed a temple on his property at Kavuvilakam. The family claimed he was buried according to his wishes, believing he had entered samadhi.

His son, Rajasenan, had told the media that his father had walked to the burial site late at night on January 9 and instructed the family to bury him privately, keeping his body away from public view.