KOTTAYAM, Kerala – The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has called for a full and unbiased investigation into the death of a young IT professional from Kottayam, who took his own life after posting a suicide note on Instagram accusing the organization of sexual abuse during its local shakha sessions. The man, identified as a former RSS member, was discovered deceased in Thiruvananthapuram on October 9, prompting sharp exchanges among political parties in the state.
In an official statement from Kottayam, RSS Dakshina Keralam Saha Prantha Karyavah K B Sreekumar described the incident as a profound loss, noting that the deceased was “one of our Swayamsevaks” and labeling his passing as “sad and unfortunate.” Sreekumar urged authorities to scrutinize not only the circumstances surrounding the suicide but also the contents of the social media note, which surfaced shortly after the discovery of the body. He dismissed the claims within it as “dubious and baseless allegations against the Sangh,” which the note purportedly tied to the man’s decision to end his life.
The RSS further escalated its response by filing a petition with Kottayam police, asserting that efforts to link the organization to the tragedy represent a “deliberate and malicious attempt” to tarnish its reputation. Officials suggested this could form part of a broader plot to undermine public trust in the group.
The controversy has ignited a political firestorm. On Saturday, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth arm of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), pressed for its own inquiry into the matter. DYFI state general secretary V K Sanooj contended that the victim had endured significant mental distress stemming from the alleged mistreatment at RSS gatherings. “We have repeatedly highlighted the issues occurring in RSS shakhas,” Sanooj stated, adding that many individuals had been drawn into the organization under false pretenses. He framed the suicide as a stark cautionary tale for others in similar positions.
Echoing these concerns on Sunday via a post on X, Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra highlighted the note’s assertion that the victim was not alone, alleging widespread sexual exploitation in RSS camps nationwide. “If true, then this is horrifying,” she wrote. “Lakhs of young children and teenagers attend these camps all over India.”
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) weighed in on Monday, aligning with the RSS in demanding a “free and fair” examination of the case while rebuking the Congress for what it termed “dastardly politics” aimed at damaging the RSS’s standing. BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi called the episode “very unfortunate and painful,” but reserved his harshest words for the opposition’s handling of it, saying it compounded the sorrow.
For now, Thiruvananthapuram city police have classified the death as natural, with no immediate arrests or further charges announced. As investigations proceed, the incident underscores deepening rifts in Kerala’s polarized political arena, where allegations of institutional misconduct collide with defenses of ideological strongholds.
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