Chennithala seeks court-monitored CBI probe into Sabarimala gold scam

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has demanded a court-monitored probe by the CBI into the Sabarimala gold theft case. Addressing the media here on Wednesday, the Haripad MLA alleged that the LDF government in Kerala was trying to sabotage the investigation being conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch. He also accused the SIT of delaying the probe due to political interference.

“The CPM is afraid that the probe into the temple robbery is extending to some big guns, including former ministers. In view of the alleged involvement of an international antique-smuggling racket, the CBI should take over the investigation. The role of Chennai-based businessman D Mani should also be probed. A mysterious gang is behind the crime,” Chennithala said.

Speaking about the case, Chennithala said gold had been looted from the Ayyappa shrine, hurting the sentiments of devotees across the world.

Chennithala has demanded a probe by a central agency days after appearing before the SIT to give a statement on the alleged role of an international antique-smuggling racket in the crime. On December 7, the Congress legislator wrote a letter to the SIT seeking a probe into the antique smuggling racket behind the crime. He also alleged that those who conspired in the gold theft had struck a deal worth ₹500 crore. 

The case
The High Court constituted the SIT on October 6, taking suo motu cognisance of the missing gold based on a report submitted by the Special Commissioner of the Devaswom Board. The report stated that the gold-clad copper coverings of the Dwarapalaka idols and the peedam on which the idols were fixed had been removed without prior intimation. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), with sponsorship from devotee Unnikrishnan Potty, had sent the items to Smart Creations for electroplating. During hearings, the bench noted that the weight of the gold had reportedly reduced by around 4 kg after the idols were handed over to Potty in 2019.

Following the revelation, the Devaswom Vigilance conducted an inquiry and submitted a report to the court. On October 10, the High Court ordered the SIT, led by ADGP (Crime Branch) H Venkatesh, to register a case and begin the probe. After launching the investigation, the SIT arrested Unnikrishnan Potty, former TDB officials N Vasu, A Padmakumar, Murari Babu, Smart Creations CEO Pankaj Bhandari and Bengaluru based Jewellerer Govardhan.