Subject: [manitham] Fwd: Fwd: Matha Amrthanandamayi Mut- a criminal
den with impunity
August 27, 20002 Through : Fax : 011-6872305 and Speed Post
The Ambassador
Embassy of France
2/50-E, Shantipath
Chanakyapuri
NEW DELHI-110 021
Your Excellency :
Sub. Suspicious death of a French lady citizen at Matha
Amrithanandamayi "Ashram" in Kerala
We, the following concerned citizens - (Balachandran Chullikad, Br.
Reny George, Dr. Sebastin Paul (Ex-M.P.), Dr. M. S. Jayaprakash, Prof.
P. Koya, Dr. Febeena Seethi, Dr. P. Muraleedharan, Dr. Abdul Salam,
Prof. Shaji Kadamala, Sr. Anniee Punnoose, and Mukundan C. Menon) --
submit the available details pertaining to the mysterious death of a
French lady citizen, Ms. Caroline Abitbole, on August 05, 2002, at
"Amrithapuri Ashram" of Matha Amrithanandamayi at Vallikavu, Kollam
District, Kerala State.
Apart from newspaper reports, our attention was particularly drawn to
the incident by a two-column advertisement inserted by her husband Dr.
Rajen Ragavan (1, ALEEDUMONT AUX DROUX, 71140 BOURBON-LANCY, FRANCE)
in a couple of Malayalam dailies on August 10, 2002. Claiming Ms.
Caroline's death as suicide, Dr. Ragavan's advertisement curiously
warned that legal action would be initiated against anybody who "
irresponsibly spread or publish wrong information" pertaining to his
wife's death.
The suspicion over Ms. Caroline's death was aroused since earlier news
reports said that her body, after falling from the 8th floor of a
building within the "Ashram" premises, was found with the head
separated from the body -- which is a near impossibility in such
suicidal deaths. Apart from this, at least a dozen suspicious
deaths of inmates/devotees, both of Indian and foreign origin, had
taken place in the same "Ashram" in recent years.
Barring Dr. Ragavan's warning, his claims in the lengthy
advertisement are self-contradictory to raise numerous questions
begging answers. Some of them are : -
First para of the advertisement said : "My wife was a psychic patient
for the past more than 20 years. Soon after the symptoms of her
disease was identified on August 5th morning, the "Ashram"
authorities telephonically informed me about it. I informed them to
administer her "Haloperidole" injection, which is usually given under
such circumstances. one of the "Ashram" doctors, Dr. Jaggu, gave
the injection immediately. From the same morning onwards, our mutual
friends had taken turns in looking after her.." If such a care and
attention was given to Caroline, how come she could jump and commit
suicide later on the same day? Apart from this question, a
sentence in the fourth para of the advertisement contradicted the
earlier claim : "Since the "Ashram" has become a major pilgrim
center, separate attention cannot be given to anybody."
More notably, the advertisement said : "We have two flats at
Amrithapuri. Myself and Caroline used to go and stay there together
and separately. In order to see the Western sea and other natural
beauty undisturbed, she insisted to remove the long iron bars on the
widow in the flat. For Caroline's happiness, we both together removed
the widow bars. Let me take this opportunity to regretfully submit
that this was done without the permission or information of the
"Ashram" authorities."
Dr. Ragavan's advertisement continued : "Caroline had psychic
disorders in 1980 at Canada, in 1987 at Thailand, in 1989 at
Rishikesh, and in 1998 at California. Chavara police arrested her in
1994 for attempt to commit suicide by jumping into sea. one or two
years before that, she was arrested at Ernakulam for walking naked on
a road."
The following questions emerge : 1) Has the "Ashram" got
recognition/registration from Kerala/Indian authorities as a place for
mental cure? 2) Had the stipulations and conditions imposed by Indian
authorities on private mental institutions, following the en-mass
death of mental patients in a private place of worship at Yarwadi in
Tamil Nadu last year, been followed in this "Ashram" in Kerala? 3)
Why a patient, with a chronic psychic history of 22 years, as well as
involved in criminal cases, was allowed to stay in the "Ashram" that,
too, without her husband? 4) Despite her psychic history, why the
iron bars in the window on the 8th floor flat was removed without the
information/permission of the "Ashram" authorities? 5) Was the earlier
news reports that Dr. Ragavan had first met Caroline at this very
"Ashram" genuine and correct? 6) How and where their marriage was
solemnised? 7) Since all unnatural deaths had to be subjected to
thorough probe according to Indian
and French law, what prompted Dr. Ragavan to take the extra-ordinary
measure of releasing such an advertisement warning anybody raising
doubts/questions on Caroline's death within five days of the
incident?
We also wish to submit that a large number of dignitaries, including
ruling politicians, Judges, and Police Officers are the devotees of
Matha Amrithanandamayi and visitors to the "Amrithanandapuri Ashram".
We, therefore, feel that an impartial probe to bring out the truth
on the grounds and circumstances that led to Ms. Caroline's death is
almost impossible without the serious interference of Your Excellency
representing the interests of both the French government and French
citizens in India.
Since the question of following whichever belief and faith should not
be at the cost of Constitutional rule of law and governance, we seek
your rapt attention and urgent interference in this issue.
Awaiting your early favorable action, we remain.
Yours faithfully,
(Name) (Address) (Signature)
Balachandran Chullikad 31/350, Cochin-24 Sd/-
Br. Reny George TC.02-0918, Kazhakoottam, TVM-82 Sd/-
Dr. Sebastin Paul, Ex-M.P. Cochin Sd/-
Dr. M. S. Jayaprakash Kollam Sd/-
Prof. P. Koya Kozhicode Sd/-
Dr. Febeena Seethi Thiruvananthapuram Sd/-
Dr. P. Muraleedharan Thiruvananthapuram Sd/-
Dr. Abdul Salam Thiruvananthapuram Sd/-
Prof. Shaji Kadamala Pala, Kottayam Sd/-
Sr. Anniee Punnoose St. Roch's Convent, TVM-8 Sd/-
Mukundan C. Menon Thiruvananthapuram Sd/-
for CHRO
Mukundan C. Menon
Secretary General
CHRO
3, Rams' Cottage
Ambalathumukku
Pettah
Thiruvananthapuram-695 024
(Ph.: 0471-476262)
--
Anivar Aravind
GAIA
