After months of internal debate and mounting political pressure, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] on Monday (June 15, 2026) suspended A. Padmakumar, former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and former Pathanamthitta district committee member of the party, in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case.

Announcing the decision, CPI(M) district secretary Raju Abraham said the district committee, in the presence of senior leaders T.M. Thomas Isaac and Saji Cherian, had approved the suspension. Holding that the party had kept Mr. Padmakumar away from all organisational responsibilities ever since his name surfaced in the controversy, Mr. Abraham said the suspension would remain in force until the special investigation team (SIT) files a chargesheet, which is expected within three months.

“If the SIT finds any grave offences against him, the action will be escalated accordingly and if he is not guilty of any such offences as alleged, the decision will be reviewed,” Mr. Abraham said.

Growing pressure

The suspension comes amid growing pressure within the CPI(M) over its handling of the controversy. The issue figured prominently during the party’s recent State committee meeting that reviewed its Assembly election setback, where leaders concluded that the failure to act against Mr. Padmakumar had also contributed to the electoral debacle. The State leadership subsequently left it to the Pathanamthitta district committee to decide the disciplinary action.

The meeting had assumed significance amid speculation that disciplinary action against Mr. Padmakumar could trigger disclosures that might put the party on the defensive.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, however, Dr. Isaac rejected suggestions that the leadership had settled for suspension out of fear of a backlash. “The allegations of him being taken away from Sabarimala to facilitate the entry of women have already been addressed by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself. The party is not afraid about Mr. Padmakumar writing an autobiography either,” he said.

Explanation not satisfactory

According to him, the suspension had been initiated because the explanation earlier furnished by Mr. Padmakumar to the party was not satisfactory. “Based on the chargesheet to be filed by the SIT, the party will be seeking explanations on the specific charges levelled against him,” he added.

Mr. Padmakumar was serving as a member of the CPI(M) Pathanamthitta district committee when he was arraigned as an accused in the case. The SIT subsequently recorded his arrest in both the cases linked to the controversy.

He is currently out on bail after spending nearly three-and-a-half months in jail.