Minister M B Rajesh Questions Media Silence on High Court’s Remarks in Sabarimala Gold Theft Case

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Local Self-Government Department (LSGD) Minister M B Rajesh on Tuesday questioned the silence of mainstream media over strong observations made by the Kerala High Court regarding media coverage of the Sabarimala gold plate theft case.

Responding to media queries, Rajesh referred to the High Court’s recent observations that there was a deliberate and calculated attempt to derail the investigation into the alleged theft through sustained pressure from sections of the media and the political opposition. The court had strongly condemned such interference, describing the issue as one of serious concern.

The minister pointed out that when two officials were included in the Special Investigation Team (SIT), certain media outlets repeatedly carried what he termed false and defamatory reports against them. However, the High Court clarified that these officials were appointed by the court itself and possessed the necessary competence and integrity. Despite this, the officials were subjected to public vilification, the court noted.

According to Rajesh, the court further observed that these allegations were amplified by opposition leaders with the support of a few media houses.

Citing Paragraph 8 of the court’s observation, the minister said the High Court explicitly stated that the SIT was underenormous and unwarranted pressure from both the opposition and the media. The court criticised mainstream and social media for spreading baseless assumptions, manipulative narratives, and sensational content, calling it a calculated attempt to influence public opinion.

The High Court warned that such conduct weakens public trust in the judiciary and interferes with the day-to-day functioning of judicial processes. It also made it clear that investigations of this nature cannot be conducted through media trials.

Rajesh questioned why, despite these severe remarks appearing in Paragraphs 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the judgment, most media outlets had failed to report them. “If the court’s criticism was directed at the Kerala government, the media would have gone into a frenzy,” he said.

He argued that the High Court’s observations expose an alleged nexus between the opposition and sections of mainstream media in the state. “If the media disagrees with the court, they should openly say so. Otherwise, they must correct themselves,” the minister added.

Rajesh also noted that Deshabhimani was the only newspaper to report the High Court’s critical observations in detail, while other outlets chose to withhold the information.