‘Distanced myself from Potti after learning of his role in gold theft case’: Adoor Prakash

Thiruvananthapuram: UDF convener and MP Adoor Prakash clarified his interactions with Unnikrishnan Potti, an accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, amid growing media scrutiny.

He stated that Potti had visited him in Bengaluru while he was in the city, bringing a gift packet containing dates and small items, with the cover carrying an invitation to his niece’s function.

Prakash said Potti later called him when an appointment with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was arranged, reportedly through Potti’s connection with her secretary, Madhavan. He emphasised that these interactions were part of his routine practice of engaging courteously with constituents. He also attended a temple ceremony for a house key-handing over organised by Potti and visited during the passing of Potti’s father.

The MP clarified that he has not met Potti since learning of his involvement in the gold theft case and severed all ties immediately. He alleged that reports linking him to wrongdoing are politically motivated and insisted that his conduct has always been guided by professional courtesy rather than complicity.

The MP stated that all interactions with Potti took place in the ordinary course of constituency duties and that he acted promptly to distance himself once the allegations surfaced. This comes amid ongoing investigations into the Sabarimala gold theft case and scrutiny of Potti’s connections with political figures in Kerala.