Padmakumar’s statement, Potti connection and more: Turning point in Sabarimala gold theft probe

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold theft case made a crucial breakthrough on Friday with the arrest of chief priest (Tantri) Kandararu Rajeevaru.

Rajeevaru appeared before the SIT around 4 am on Friday for questioning. His assistant Narayanan Namboothiri accompanied him. The interrogation lasted several hours, during which Crime Branch chief H. Venkatesh also questioned him in detail. Subsequently, by around 3 pm on Friday, the SIT formally recorded Rajeevaru’s arrest.

From the time the Sabarimala gold theft came to light, Rajeevaru had been among the names under suspicion. The net tightened after former Devaswom Board president and accused A. Padmakumar stated that the Rajeevaru had close links with Unnikrishnan Potti. Further suspicion arose over a note allegedly issued by the Tantri granting permission to take the gold plates outside the temple. Earlier, the SIT had recorded statements from Rajeevaru and tantri Kandararu Maheswararu Mohanan.

Padmakumar’s key statement

Following his arrest, A. Padmakumar told investigators that Unnikrishnan Potti had close links with both the tantri and then minister Kadakampally Surendran. Padmakumar stated that Potti was already active in Sabarimala even before he became acquainted with him, and that Potti functioned at Sabarimala as someone closely associated with the tantri family.

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During the SIT investigation, Rajeevaru admitted that he knew Unnikrishnan Potti. He stated that Potti was known to him both as a devotee who offered several rituals at Sabarimala and as an assistant to the priest. Rajeevar maintained that the gold plates were taken out based on a decision of the Devaswom Board, and that he had merely granted permission after considering the temple’s interests when a request was made to renew the gold plating. In November, Rajeevaru and Kandararu Mohanan had given statements to this effect.

However, Rajeevaru later told the media that it was not he who had brought Potti to Sabarimala.

Suspicion over the wording of the note

When the 2019 gold smuggling case came to light last year, the initial investigation report by the Devaswom Vigilance had pointed to the tantri’s note. In the note, the Rajeevaru reportedly mentioned that the gold on the Dwarapalaka sculptures had worn thin, exposing copper beneath.

Murari Babu, who was the administrative officer at the time, had obtained a written opinion from Rajeevaru permitting the removal of the gold plates. According to the vigilance report, the note stated: “As the gold coating on the Dwarapalakas and the southern and northern corners of the sanctum has worn thin, revealing copper, permission may be granted to newly apply gold and clean the structures.”

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However, the SIT noted that Rajeevaru’s note failed to mention the fact that gold plating had already been done on the Dwarapalaka sculptures and pillars at the southern and northern corners in 1998.

Although Murari Babu prepared his report based on Rajeevaru’s note, he later altered the wording. The reference to “gold wearing thin and copper becoming visible” was changed to copper sheets in the case of the Dwarapalakas and copper plates for the pillars at the southern and northern corners. Rajeevaru had earlier stated, when the theft came to light in September, that the report did not reflect what he had written.

Former Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar had earlier stated that many people regarded as divine were involved in the Sabarimala gold theft. “What can be done if many who are seen as divine are involved in this?” he had remarked months ago. However, he did not clarify whether the remark referred to the Rajeevaru.