Controversy Erupts at Actor Sreenivasan’s Funeral Over Unauthorized Rituals Led by Alleged Fraudster
A significant controversy has emerged following the funeral of renowned actor, screenwriter, and director Sreenivasan, who passed away on Saturday, December 20. The dispute centers on the involvement of Sunil Swami, an individual allegedly implicated in numerous fraud cases, who reportedly took on the principal role in conducting the last rites without the knowledge or consent of Sreenivasan’s grieving family.
The funeral ceremonies took place on Sunday. According to sources close to the family, Sunil Swami, whose presence sparked suspicion among many attendees, was neither invited nor known to any family members. The family maintains that he arrived at the residence where Sreenivasan’s body was kept after being displayed at the town hall, both on Saturday night and again on Sunday morning, and proceeded to lead the rituals without being asked.
It is widely known that Sreenivasan held no strong beliefs in such elaborate rituals. However, he had never opposed his wife Vimala’s faith. Consequently, the family, including his sons Vineeth and Dhyan, decided to proceed with Hindu customary rites to honor Vimala’s wishes. Despite this, Sunil Swami reportedly took it upon himself to officiate the ceremonies, much to the family’s dissatisfaction and dismay.
Sunil Swami, originally known as Sunil Das, was a former cooperative bank employee in Palakkad’s Pallasana before assuming his spiritual moniker. His journey reportedly began with the Sathya Sai Seva Samithi, after which he established the ‘Sneham Charitable Trust’ from his home, allegedly as a front for fraudulent activities. Sunil Das has a long history of legal troubles, facing multiple cases of fraud across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and has served time in jail.
His alleged criminal record includes a case of swindling three and a half crore rupees from a Coimbatore-based industrialist, for which he was incarcerated in Coimbatore Central Jail. He is also implicated in a case involving the alleged embezzlement of five and a half crore rupees from Madhava Variyar, founder of the Variyar Foundation in Tirunavaya. Furthermore, allegations suggest Sunil Das orchestrated a massive fraud of 157 crore rupees by falsely claiming to be a royal guru of the Mysore Palace. There are also older accusations of him defrauding actress Sreevidya of lakhs of rupees.
The family’s profound grief over Sreenivasan’s passing was compounded by the unauthorized involvement of a figure against whom Sreenivasan himself, known for his firm stance against fraudsters, would have likely taken a strong position. The uninvited leadership of Sunil Swami in the funeral rites has left Sreenivasan’s family deeply discontent.