Thiruvananthapuram: Amid the growing political row over the missing gold from the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, the Congress leadership has demanded a court-monitored investigation by a central agency.

Addressing the media here on Sunday, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said the party would intensify its protests until those who “looted Lord Ayyappa’s gold” are brought before the law.

Venugopal made the remarks as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch initiated a probe into the alleged scam. Commenting on the decision to name the 2019 Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) members as accused in the case, he argued that the incumbent board members, who had handed over the Dwarapalaka idol coverings to the first accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, were equally responsible.

“The SIT probe has been ordered only to protect the real culprits. A central agency should take over the investigation to uncover the truth. The CPM-led government ordered this SIT probe merely to mislead the public,” Venugopal alleged.

He also accused the ministers of the LDF government of being involved in the scam.

He further accused the BJP of maintaining silence on the issue due to what he described as its “unholy nexus” with the CPM.

“The BJP-CPM nexus is clear from the ED probe against the Chief Minister’s son. No action has been taken against him despite ignoring the ED summons in the Life Mission money laundering case,” he added.