Sabarimala gold theft case: SIT arrests former Devaswom Commissioner N Vasu

Pathanamthitta: N Vasu, former Devaswom Commissioner, has been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Sabarimala gold theft case. Vasu is the third accused in the case. The arrest relates to allegations that during his tenure as Commissioner, he failed to act when the gold at the Sabarimala sanctum sanctorum, handed over to sponsor Unnikrishnan Potti, remained unaccounted for.

Vasu was the Devaswom Board Commissioner during the 2019 Sabarimala gold theft. Vasu became the third accused after confirming that, as Commissioner, he had instructed on March 19, 2019 that the gold plates from the panel should be marked as copper. Vasu stepped down from the Commissioner post on March 31, 2019, and later became Devaswom Board president.

While Vasu was president, a controversial email was received from Unnikrishnan Potti after the gold application process had been completed. The email stated that some gold remained and suggested it could be used for a girl’s wedding. Vasu’s explanation regarding this email was found unsatisfactory; he claimed he had forwarded the message to others and did not follow up on it.

He faced allegations that, despite knowing that excess gold remained with the sponsor, he failed to take action.

Earlier, based on the testimony of former executive officer D Sudheesh Kumar, the SIT had questioned N Vasu regarding the matter.