Sabarimala gold plating row: SIT grills prime accused—know why Potti’s custody marks a turning point

Thiruvananthapuram: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the gold allegedly missing from Sabarimala temple has taken prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti into custody, police sources said.

Potti, a Bengaluru-based businessman, was picked up from his residence at Pulimath near Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday afternoon and later shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

After the Kerala High Court directed the SIT to take over, the team conducted a preliminary probe focusing on evidence collection. Investigators have obtained documents from the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) related to the handing over of gold-clad copper plates of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frames for electroplating in 2019.

Information was also collected from Smart Creations, Chennai, the firm responsible for the electroplating work, regarding gold sponsored by Potti. The SIT has now begun recording statements of witnesses and accused persons as part of the ongoing probe.

Earlier, the TDB Vigilance Wing had questioned Potti for two days and recorded his statement during a preliminary inquiry.

Which cases are being investigated?

The SIT is investigating two cases—one concerning missing gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and another related to the loss of gold from the Sreekovil door frames. The Kerala High Court has set a six-week deadline for the SIT to complete its probe.

Potti’s custody marks a crucial turning point. He is listed as the prime accused among 10 individuals named in two charge sheets filed in connection with the case.

The scam involves allegations of large-scale misappropriation and tampering during gold plating of the temple’s sacred properties, sparking outrage among devotees and religious bodies. Sources said the SIT’s questioning will focus on tracing the missing gold, identifying the wider network involved, and verifying financial trails linked to the scam.

The team is expected to confront Potti with technical and documentary evidence already gathered. Officials indicated further action will follow based on his statements, with his arrest either recorded or notice issued for future questioning.

Political and public reactions

The controversy has put pressure on the CPI-M-led Left government headed by Pinarayi Vijayan. Both Congress and BJP have demanded the resignation of Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan. The scandal, which began in 2019, triggered widespread public anger and calls for accountability from temple authorities and the TDB.

The Board has suspended two officials responsible for the scam and served notices to retired employees named in the charge sheets. The High Court’s intervention in forming the SIT came after lapses in the initial investigation, intensifying the probe and renewing public focus on the missing gold.