THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, has been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).The SIT reached his residence at Pulimath early Thursday morning and brought him to an undisclosed location in Thiruvananthapuram for interrogation.The probe focuses on the theft of gold from the dwarapalaka (guardian) idols and kattilapadi (door-frame) structures at Sabarimala. Investigators claim Potti allegedly handed over the stolen gold to a Bengaluru-based man identified as Kalpesh, and crucial information regarding his involvement has been obtained.
The SIT is also reviewing records from Smart Creations, Chennai, the firm that conducted electroplating, to trace gold allegedly sponsored by Potti. Potti had been questioned multiple times earlier by the devaswom vigilance, but his mobile phone was reportedly switched off since Wednesday, raising concerns about possible tampering with evidence.Potti is the first accused in one of the two cases registered in connection with the theft. Other accused include former administrative officer Murari Babu, former TDB secretary S Jayasree, former Thiruvabharanam commissioners K S Baiju and R G Radhakrishnan, former executive officers D Sudheesh Kumar and V S Rajendra Prasad, assistant engineer K Sunil Kumar, and former administrative officers S Sreekumar and K Rajendran Nair.Parallel inspections are ongoing at Sabarimala, with officials verifying files and records from the executive office. The SIT is expected to determine the exact quantity of gold misappropriated by Potti within the six-week deadline set by the Kerala High Court.Meanwhile, state BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar demanded the resignation of devaswom minister V N Vasavan, threatening to seek a CBI or ED probe into the theft if he fails to step down. Chandrasekhar also called for the dissolution of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
