Thiruvananthapuram: A Padmakumar, former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, appeared confident even after the Special Investigation Team recorded his arrest in the Sabarimala gold scam case. When the SIT took him to the Thiruvananthapuram Government General Hospital for a medical examination, media personnel questioned his earlier claims of innocence.

“Let Ayyappan decide everything,” Padmakumar told the media, without losing his composure.

A Vigilance Court in Kollam remanded him in judicial custody for next 14 days. The SIT recorded his arrest on Thursday after interrogating him in the case related to the misappropriation of gold plates from Sabarimala temple. 

His arrest has put the CPM in a difficult position, as he is a prominent leader of the party in Pathanamthitta and a former legislator who represented the Konni constituency in the state assembly.

Following his arrest, UDF and BJP leaders levelled serious allegations against the LDF government.

Opposition Leader VD Satheesan said the probe team would uncover the involvement of more CPM leaders in the case.

“There will be a procession of CPM leaders being arrested. The SIT should question former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, as the gold theft occurred during his tenure. The CPM leadership is also aware of it,” he said.

He also alleged that incumbent Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan was aware of all the irregularities in Sabarimala.

“If the Kerala High Court had not intervened, even the idol of Lord Ayyappa might have been lost,” he said while addressing the media in Ernakulam.

Meanwhile, the BJP alleged that there was a “political hand” behind the irregularities. BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the matter must be investigated, either by the SIT or central agencies. 

“If this government cannot protect the temples and devotees, then hand it over to the Narendra Modi government,” he said.

However, CPM state secretary MV Govindan said the party had no role in the matter and would not protect anyone brought before the law. He also noted that Padmakumar has only been arrested and has not been declared guilty by the court.

“Let the process continue. Let it come before the court,” he told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.