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Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 20 (IANS) In a major development in the Sabarimala gold theft case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Thursday arrested former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) chairman A. Padmakumar was arrested at an undisclosed location here after hours of interrogation. With this arrest, the total number of people arrested in the case has reached six.
Padmakumar was the CPI(M) MLA from Konni assembly constituency from 1991–96.
Padmakumar had reportedly played a central role in granting permission for the removal of gold layers from Kattilappadi around the Sabarimala sanctum sanctorum during 2019 when he was President.
He will be produced before the Kollam vigilance court later on Thursday.
According to preliminary findings of the SIT, the gold sheet fraud took place with the full knowledge and approval of Padmakumar, who is listed as the eighth accused in the case.
The FIR states that the gold sheets were removed and handed over to a contractor with the approval of the board.
The arrested former administrative officer Murari Babu and other officials have testified that this decision was taken at the board level.
Statements from Padmakumar’s close staff during his tenure have corroborated these claims.
Investigators believe that the contractor was given unrestricted access to Sabarimala under Padmakumar’s instructions.
Devaswom Vigilance, which initially investigated the case, also indicated institutional involvement in the theft.
Meanwhile, the third accused in the case, former Devaswom commissioner and board president N. Vasu has been sent back to SIT custody.
He was brought to Kollam vigilance court from Kottarakkara sub-jail amid heavy police security.
BJP workers attempted to stop the police vehicle carrying Vasu, leading to a brief standoff.
Police eventually dispersed the protesters and cleared the way for vehicles.
With the arrest of Padmakumar and the custodial interrogation of Vasu, investigators believe they are getting closer to uncovering a conspiracy that allegedly involved top administrative officials of the Devaswom Board.
Late on Wednesday evening itself, the SIT directed him to appear for questioning, amid growing speculation that he would be called on Friday.
He was at the helm of the TDB in 2019 when gold was allegedly stolen during the plating of gold in the sanctum sanctorum structures of the Sabarimala temple.
Others arrested include key accused ‘sponsor’ Unnikrishnan Potti, besides Vasu and a serving and three retired officials of the Devaswom Board.
–IANS
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