Pathanamthitta: Former TDB president A Padmakumar, who is in remand in the Sabarimala gold theft case, has targeted 2019 Devaswom Board members KP Shankardas and N Vijayakumar, claiming they share responsibility. Padmakumar argued in his bail application filed in the Kollam Vigilance Court that the board is collectively accountable for the allegations against him.

The 2019 Devaswom Board has been listed as the eighth accused in the case related to the disappearance of gold plates from the sanctum door. Through his bail plea, Padmakumar maintains that all decisions were carried out based on the board’s directives, and therefore, no member can evade joint responsibility. While statements from Shankardas and Vijayakumar have been recorded by the special investigation team, they have not undergone detailed questioning.

A report prepared by former Devaswom Commissioner N Vasu and officials Murari Babu, D Sudheesh Kumar and others was before the board at the time. The report referred to brass plating on the door panel, not gold plating. Padmakumar altered the term “brass” with green ink to read “copper”.

Shankardas and Vijayakumar have told investigators that they had no involvement in this. However, as neither raised written objections to the decision of the board, their claim of having no knowledge of the irregularities may stand weakened. Failure to object could amount to complicity.

Padmakumar also defends the insertion of “copper” in the report in his bail plea, saying he made the change because the base metal was copper.