Sabarimala gold theft case: SIT arrests former tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Sabarimala tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru has been arrested in the high profile Sabarimala gold theft case. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) recorded the arrest. Rajeevaru was taken into custody after being summoned to the SIT office for questioning on Friday.

Earlier statements given by former Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar and others had alleged that it was then tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru who brought first accused Unnikrishnan Potti to Sabarimala. It was also Rajeevaru who allegedly issued the note stating that the gold-plated panels, where copper had begun to appear due to wear, could be taken for re-plating. However, the SIT had observed that the note made no mention of the fact that the panels had been gold-plated in 1998. It was this note that Murari Babu, another accused in the case, later altered to describe the panels as copper sheets.

The SIT had previously questioned Kandararu Rajeevaru in connection with the Sabarimala gold smuggling case. Rajeevaru had stated that he knew Unnikrishnan Potti but had issued the note based on the instructions of officials.

Those arrested so far in the case include Unnikrishnan Potti, former Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar, former Devaswom commissioner N Vasu, former Administrative Officer Murari Babu, former Executive Officer D Sudheesh Kumar, Smart Creations CEO Pankaj Bhandari, Bellary-based jewellery owner Govardhan, former Administrative Officer Sreekumar and former Devaswom Board member N Vijayakumar.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also registered a case on Friday in connection with the Sabarimala gold smuggling incident. The accused listed by the ED are the same individuals named in the SIT investigation.