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Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 16 (IANS) In a significant development in the sensational Sabarimala gold plating scam, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Kerala High Court on Thursday took into custody key accused Unnikrishnan Potti.
Potti, facing serious charges in connection with the disappearance of gold plates from the iconic temple, was picked up from his residence in the state capital district around noon and taken to an undisclosed location for questioning.
His arrest marks a turning point in the investigation.
He has been listed as the main accused among 10 persons named in two chargesheets filed in connection with the case.
The scam involves allegations of large-scale misappropriation and tampering during the gold plating of sacred temple properties and other structures, which has sparked outrage among devotees and religious bodies.
Sources said the SIT inquiry is expected to focus on tracing the missing gold, identifying the wider network involved and confirming financial clues linked to the scam.
The team is also likely to confront Potti with the technical and documentary evidence already collected during the first phase of the investigation.
The scandal, which rocked the state, sparked widespread public outrage and demands for accountability from the temple authorities and the Travancore Devaswom Board.
It also demanded transparent action from the Pinarayi Vijayan-led CPI-M-led Left government and stronger security measures around the temple properties.
Both Congress and BJP are on the streets demanding the resignation of Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan.
The case gained further momentum after the High Court intervened and directed the formation of an SIT citing lapses in the initial investigation.
Since then the team has intensified its action.
Officials indicated that further action would be taken based on Potti’s statements, and subsequently, Potti’s arrest would be recorded, or he would be served a notice to appear for questioning in the future.
The development has once again brought the Sabarimala gold offering controversy into public focus, increasing pressure on authorities to ensure that the missing gold is recovered and those responsible are brought to justice.
The board, on its part, has suspended two officials who were responsible for the scam that began in 2019.
It has given notice to those retired employees whose names are in the charge sheet.
–IANS
SG/VD