Sabarimala Temple Gold Scam: Key Figure Nabbed

In a significant development concerning the Sabarimala Temple gold theft, the key accused, identified as Unnikrishnan Potty, has been arrested. Potty, a Bengaluru-based businessman who also served as a ‘sponsor’ in temple activities, was detained on Thursday and formally arrested on Friday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT, tasked with uncovering the truth behind the missing gold, interrogated Potty for several hours after taking him into custody from his Pulimath residence. He was later taken for medical assessment before being moved to Pathanamthitta. His court appearance is scheduled for tomorrow at the Ranni Court, where law enforcement aims to secure his custody for in-depth interrogation. The investigation is focused on two critical areas: the missing gold ornaments from the statues of the Dwarapalakas and the gold plating from the Sreekovil door frames. Investigators are meticulously reviewing the roles played by Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials and members who approved the transfer of gold-clad copper plates to Potty for electroplating purposes back in 2019. Prior to this arrest, Potty had been questioned by the TDB’s Vigilance Wing as part of their preliminary inquiry. The Kerala High Court is closely monitoring the investigation, having stipulated a six-week completion period.