Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 27 (IANS) The high-profile Sabarimala gold theft case is entering the crucial third phase of the investigation, raising concerns within Kerala’s ruling CPI(M) as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) prepares to file its next progress report before the High Court on November 4.
The investigation, monitored by a division bench of the Kerala High Court, has already seen two major rounds.
The first resulted in the arrest of alleged mastermind and key “sponsor” Unnikrishnan Potti, while the second resulted in the detention of Murari Babu, the then top official of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).
On Sunday night, the SIT along with Potti returned to its Thiruvananthapuram camp office after investigation visits to Bengaluru and Chennai, indicating that the next phase is going to be intensified.
According to sources, the SIT is probing the role of several persons named in the two FIRs filed in the case, which list a total of 10 accused, of whom only two are in custody so far.
With the court deadline approaching, speculation is rife whether the team will summon persons with political connections.
Both the opposition Congress and BJP have demanded that the SIT probe the involvement of senior CPI(M) leaders, including former Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran and current minister VN Vasavan.
The theft of the gold, which dates back to 2019 during Surendran’s tenure, took place when former CPI(M) MLA A. Padmakumar was the TDB president.
Political observers say any move implicating key personalities could deal a serious blow to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s government, which is already grappling with internal unrest over the PM SHRI controversy.
The SIT’s findings and the High Court’s response next week are expected to determine whether the case will remain a law-and-order issue – or turn into a full-fledged political crisis for Kerala’s ruling Left.
Meanwhile, a retired top Kerala Police officer who has worked with the NIA reacted that the fate of the investigation will be known when the contents of its report, which will be filed before the court on November 4, are out.
The former police officer said, “At the moment, it is too early to comment on whether it is going in the desired direction. On November 4, whenever the material comes out, I will say whether the investigation is going on in the desired manner or not and whether it will be one that exposes all the people behind this scam.”
–IANS
SG/DPB