SIT Raids Bengaluru, Ballari in Sabarimala Gold Theft Probe

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala temple gold scam searched the apartment of the prime accused , Unnikrishnan Potty, in Bengaluru and a Jewellery shop in Ballari on Saturday. The team also raided a jewellery shop in Ballari following Potty's confession that he had sold the gold swindled from Sabarimala to the shop owner, Govardhan.

Govardhan reportedly funded the gold plating work of the temple's Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frame, which was officially sponsored by Unnikrishnan Potty. "I have given a detailed statement to the SIT," the shop owner told mediapersons.

The team reportedly recovered a portion of the gold allegedly swindled from Sabarimala and sold it there. The SIT reportedly recovered 176 grams of gold ornaments and records of the land purchased by Potty from his apartment in Bengaluru. Along with searching Potty's apartment, the SIT visited an Ayyappa temple in Srirampura, where he had previously served as a priest.

Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan praised the outcome of the SIT probe. "There are reports that a portion of the gold has been recovered by SIT. It's good development which shows that the probe is heading in the right direction," he told reporters.

Additionally, another SIT team travelled to Chennai and raided the premises of Smart Creations along with Potty. The electroplating work in question was done there in 2019. Investigators believe Potty received gold-clad plates of the Dwarapalaka idols from the TDB for electroplating and allegedly transported them without authorisation to various temples and private residences across South India.

It's worth noting that the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Ranni granted SIT custody of Potty until October 30. The team is optimistic about gathering critical evidence before the custody period ends.

Potty is the main accused in two cases involving the missing gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and the Sreekovil door frames. His first arrest was linked to the smuggling of gold from idol plates. The SIT recently arrested former Sabarimala administrative officer B. Burari Babu in connection with the case.

The Sabarimala gold scam surfaced when the Kerala High Court initiated an inquiry into the removal of the Dwarapalaka idols' claddings for gold plating without prior court approval. The court is overseeing the investigation and has instructed the SIT to provide regular updates on the probe's progress.

BJP protest

The BJP Kerala unit has decided to continue its round-the-clock protest against the Sabarimala gold scam until Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan resigns. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, while addressing the party's demonstration outside the Secretariat on Saturday, called for the dissolution of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). A large number of BJP workers staged a dharna in front of the secretariat and raised slogans against the government.