RSS calls Kerala IT professional’s suicide allegations ‘dubious and baseless’, seeks probe

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Dakshin Kerala unit on Monday issued a statement expressing sorrow over the death of Anandu Aji, a 26-year-old IT professional from Kottayam district, Kerala, and sought a comprehensive probe into the circumstances surrounding his death.

“The unnatural death of Anandu Aji, one of our Swayamsevaks from Elikkulam at Kottayam District is very much sad and unfortunate...RSS Kottayam also demands for comprehensive investigation into the circumstances leading towards the unnatural death of Anandu Aji along with suicide note which appeared on Instagram and some Social Media Platforms, soon after his death," the statement read, reported ANI.

"It contains some Dubious and baseless allegations against Sangh, which he claims as cause of his Suicide...We are of the firm opinion that an Independent inquiry will not only bring out the real cause of his unnatural death, but also ensure innocence of RSS in this unfortunate incident also,” it added.

The statement added that Anandu Aji came from a family closely connected to the Sangh, with his late father, Sri Aji, having been actively involved as a Karyakartha. It conveyed condolences to the grieving family and prayers for Anandu’s soul.

Kerala State BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar reacts

Earlier, Kerala State BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the RSS had called for a detailed investigation, suggesting a "conspiracy" to tarnish the organisation's image.

"RSS is also demanding an investigation; it is their view that there is a deep conspiracy behind this to defame the RSS. They will issue a clear statement on this issue very soon. They have said there is a conspiracy; the person was not well," Chandrasekhar said.

The incident triggered a political controversy after the Congress accused the RSS, citing the suicide note of the IT professional.

What is the case?

Ananthu Aji was found dead in a lodge in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday evening by the hotel staff. According to The Print, in a scheduled Instagram post published after his death, he said he was taking his own life because of anxiety and depression caused by repeated sexual and physical abuse he faced in the outfit, his father had made him join as a child.

He said he was a rape victim and had faced sexual abuse since he was four years old, and later from many members of the Sangh, initially, by ‘NM’, an active RSS member and his former neighbour, and later by several Sangh members. He also claimed that many people were undergoing similar physical and sexual abuse within the organisation.

Following his death, the police registered a case of unnatural death and initiated a probe.

‘Leadership of RSS must take immediate action; they must come clean’

On Sunday, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged a thorough probe into the “allegations of sexual abuse”.

In a post on X, the Wayanad MP referred to the suicide message and said the victim was abused by several RSS members, asking the RSS leadership to act immediately on these claims.

Priyanka Gandhi posted, “The RSS must allow these allegations to be investigated fully. In his suicide message, Anandu Aji alleged that he was abused again and again by multiple members of the RSS. He clearly stated that he was not the only victim and that rampant sexual abuse is taking place in RSS camps. If true, then this is horrifying. Lakhs of young children and teenagers attend these camps all over India. The leadership of the RSS must take immediate action; they must come clean. Sexual abuse of boys is a scourge as widespread as that of girls. The code of silence around these unspeakably heinous crimes has to be broken.”

"The truth about what happens behind the curtain only comes out when incidents like Ananda's death surface, revealing a 'rotten' organisation, the RSS,” Congress leader Pawan Khera said, according to PTI.

(With inputs from agencies)