Thiruvananthapuram: The Judicial Commission report on the 1995 police action at Sivagiri Mutt had concluded that there was no violence on the part of the police and that action was necessary only when the crowd turned violent. The 407-page report, now available on the Kerala Legislative Assembly website, supports former Chief Minister AK Antony’s claim that police intervention was carried out under court orders.

The commission praised the investigating officers for handling the situation with restraint but criticised the then government for failing to resolve the issue effectively.

Antony defended himself after the ruling party criticised the incidents in the Assembly. He had urged the media to release the judicial inquiry report so the public could understand the events. Antony said he had initially planned to speak after the Assembly elections but felt compelled to respond when allegations were made against him.

The police action occurred on October 11, 1995, following disputes over elections within the Sivagiri Mutt. Six rebel monks, including Prakashananda, had won the contest, but the Saswathikananda faction initially refused to transfer power. After Prakashananda approached the court in December 1994, the government was directed to ensure the transfer.

Police arrived early on October 11 to implement the court order, but faced attacks from the Saswathikananda faction. The situation escalated as Abdul Nasar Ma'dani and the PDP reportedly supported the protesting faction. Clashes during the intervention left more than 200 people injured, and damage to the temple and monastery drew widespread criticism of the police.