Thiruvananthapuram: Former Thiruvabharanam Commissioner K.S. Baiju has been arrested in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case, becoming the seventh accused in the investigation. The special probe team took Baiju into custody from his apartment in Thiruvananthapuram after reportedly obtaining concrete evidence indicating his crucial role in the case.

Baiju served as the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner in 2019, when the alleged tampering of official records and the transfer of the temple’s gold plates to Unnikrishnan Potty took place. He was also in charge when the ornaments were brought back to the Sabarimala sanctum.

According to reports, Baiju was absent from duty at the time when the gold plates were being transported from Sabarimala — a fact that had earlier raised suspicions in the Devaswom Vigilance report. The report noted that Baiju had failed to properly document and weigh the gold as required, marking a serious procedural lapse.

Investigators questioned Baiju alongside Unnikrishnan Potty and are expected to produce him before the Ranni court on Friday. His arrest brings the total number of people taken into custody in the case to four.