Neyyattinkara samadhi case: Exhumation halted amid stiff resistance

Thiruvananthapuram: The exhumation of a man, allegedly placed in a 'samadhi' or entombment, for forensic and post-mortem examination was halted on Monday after police faced stiff resistance from his family. The Sub-Collector will speak to the family before proceeding with the exhumation.

Gopan Swami (Maniyan, 69), a resident of Kavu Vilakam, Siddhan Bhavan in Neyyattinkara, died under suspicious circumstances after his family posted a sign on Thursday claiming he had attained 'samadhi.'

Gopan's wife and son lay in front of the tomb to block the police proceedings, following formal instructions from District Collector Anu Kumari to open the enclosure. Under the supervision of the RDO, the body was to be exhumed and transferred to the Medical College for post-mortem. If the body had decomposed too much, the procedure would be carried out at a more suitable location nearby.

Gopan, who had been bedridden due to illness, reportedly passed away on Thursday morning. His wife, Sulochana, and sons, Rajasenan and Sanandan, claimed they placed Gopan's remains in the tomb following his death. However, Rajasenan later changed his statement, asserting that his father had expressed a desire to be interred in this manner. Rajasenan, a priest at the family temple, claimed the burial was carried out according to Gopan’s wishes.

According to Rajasenan's police statement, Gopan was taken to the samadhi site around 10.30 am on Thursday and seated in a meditative posture. Rituals were conducted as per his instructions until 3.30 am on Friday and a concrete slab was placed over the enclosure.

The police confirmed that Gopan, a devout follower of Lord Shiva, had built a Shiva temple in the family compound and regularly performed rituals there. The samadhi site, located near the temple, was reportedly constructed by Gopan years ago. The family claimed he had instructed them not to allow others to view his body after death and to bury him in a samadhi.

In Hinduism, Sikhism, and Sufism, a samadhi is a tomb or memorial dedicated to someone believed to have attained spiritual enlightenment or mahasamadhi. The term also refers to a transcendent state often associated with the moment of death.