Sabarimala Gold Theft: SIT Arrests Key Accused Unnikrishnan Potti.
In a major breakthrough, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Kerala High Court arrested Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, early Friday.
Potti, a Bengaluru-based businessman, was taken into custody from his residence near Thiruvananthapuram after a nearly 12-hour interrogation at the Crime Branch office on Thursday, sources told PTI. He underwent a medical examination at Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital before being shifted to Pathanamthitta and will be produced before the Ranni court later in the day.
Focus of Investigation
The SIT is currently investigating two linked cases:
- The missing gold from the Dwarapalaka idols
- The loss of gold from the Sreekovil door frames
Officials are also probing the alleged involvement of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) members and officials, who reportedly handed over gold-clad copper plates to Potti for electroplating in 2019.
Potti’s Statement
During interrogation, Potti admitted that the Dwarapalaka plates were removed on July 19, 2019, moved to Bengaluru, then Hyderabad, and finally sent to Smart Creations for gold plating on August 29, 2019. He claimed the gold theft was planned and alleged that TDB officials were aware, stating that the stolen gold was shared among board members.
A middleman, Kalpesh, has also been identified as a key conspirator, and the SIT is examining the possible role of Smart Creations and temple doorkeepers in the case.
Political Fallout
BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar has demanded the resignation of State Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan and called for a CBI and ED probe into the scam. He tweeted:
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