The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged disappearance of gold from the Sabarimala temple intensified its inquiry on Thursday. The SIT arrested and grilled the prime accused in the case Bengaluru-based businessman Unnikrishnan Potty.
According to local media reports, Potty was taken into custody from his residence at Pulimath near Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday afternoon and later shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation. His questioning marks a key phase in the SIT’s investigation into one of Kerala’s most controversial temple-related corruption cases.
The SIT took over the probe following a directive from the Kerala High Court, which has given the team six weeks to complete the investigation. Initial inquiries focused on gathering evidence and verifying records related to the gold used for electroplating the temple’s Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frames in 2019.
The scandal, which erupted in 2019, has angered devotees and religious bodies. The case has raised questions about transparency and accountability in the handling of temple assets under the Travancore Devaswom Board’s (TDB) supervision.
10 people named in charge sheets
Investigators have already secured documents from the TDB and collected information from Chennai-based firm Smart Creations that carried out the electroplating work. The gold for the process was reportedly sponsored by Potty, who now faces allegations of large-scale misappropriation and tampering.
The SIT is probing two separate cases — one involving the missing gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and another concerning the loss from the Sreekovil door frames. Potty is the prime accused among 10 individuals named in two charge sheets filed earlier.
The SIT is expected to confront Potty with technical and documentary evidence already collected. Based on his statements, officials are likely to decide on further legal action, multiple reports stated.
Political pressure on Kerala govt
The controversy has snowballed into a major political issue in Kerala. Both the Congress and the BJP have demanded the resignation of Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan, accusing the CPI(M)-led government of shielding those responsible.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that his party would request the Centre for a CBI or ED probe in the case if Vasavan does not resign. Chandrasekhar also demanded TDB’s dissolution.