Sabarimala gold scam: SIT recovers 576 gm from Bengaluru during evidence collection with Unnikrishnan Potty

Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the large-scale gold theft at the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala has recovered 400 gm of gold allegedly stolen by the main accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, from the panels covering the ‘Dwarapalaka’ idols at the temple. The recovery was made from a jewellery shop in Ballari, Karnataka. Additionally, 176 gm of gold jewellery and several land documents were seized from a flat owned by Potty in Bengaluru.

The 400 gm of gold, stored in the form of bars, was traced following Potty’s statement that he had sold it to Govardhan, owner of Roddam Jewellery in Ballari. The SIT will conduct scientific tests to confirm whether the seized gold originated from the Dwarapalaka idols.

Earlier, Govardhan told the SIT that he had no role in the gold theft. In his statement, he claimed he had only supplied the gold required to plate the panels covering the doors and door frames of the sanctum sanctorum to Smart Creations, a Chennai-based firm. He told the SIT that he supploed the gold upon Potty’s instructions. The SIT also took Potty to Govardhan’s residence in Ballari for evidence collection.

Potty’s Bengaluru flat — from where the gold and land documents were seized — is located near the Srirampura Ayyappa Temple, where he had earlier worked as a keezhsanthi (junior priest). His wife and son currently live there.

The SIT had earlier taken Potty to Smart Creations in Ambattur, Chennai, to collect further evidence in the case. According to investigators, Potty had taken the gold-plated coverings of the Dwarapalaka idols to this firm for electroplating work.