Sabarimala Gold Plating Case: SIT Grills Prime Accused Unnikrishnan Potty
The team has already obtained documents from the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) related to the handing over of gold-clad copper plates of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frames for electroplating in 2019
Thiruvananthapuram: The Crime Branch Special Investigation team (SIT) took Unnikrishnan Potty into custody on Thursday in connection with the Sabarimala temple gold missing case. Potty, the main accused in the case, is reportedly being questioned by a team led by Crime Branch ADGP H Venkatesh at the Armed Reserve Camp.
The SIT members are expected to record their report today. The probe team took him from his house in Pulamathu, Thiruvananthapuram earlier in the day.
Potty, who had sponsored the Dwarapalaka idol coverings, allegedly extracted gold from the idols under the guise of electroplating. His associate, Kalpesh, is the second accused in this case.
The SIT has named all members of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) from 2019 as accused in the case. Additionally, the Then Devaswom Commissioner, Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, Executive Officer, Administrative Officer and Assistant Engineer have also been charged.
The Kerala high court had earlier directed the SIT on October 10 to register a case and investigate allegations of 475 grams of gold being misappropriated from the Sabarimala temple. The court instructed the SIT to conduct an impartial investigation and submit a report in six weeks, following a review of the investigation report submitted by the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer.
This report suggests that around 475.9 grams of gold were handed over to the sponsor, Unnikrishnan Potty, but there are no records indicating that this gold was ever returned to the TDB. The counsel of Unnikrishnan Potty alleged that the police picked up his client without any formal notice.
BJP Mahila Morcha protest
Meanwhile, the state unit of BJP on Thursday demanded the resignation of Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan in connection with the Sabarimala gold missing case.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrashekhar said if Vasavan failed to resign, his party would urge the Centre for a probe by CBI or ED into the scam.
Chandraskhar was inaugurating the protest march of Mahla Morcha in front of the state secretariat.
The BJP state president accused the CPM of resorting to minority appeasement politics in the state . "We have already urged the Governor to seek Vasavan's resignation," he said. The Mahila Morcha protest was led by BJP leaders Sobha Surendran and Navya Haridas.
