Pathanamthitta (Kerala): The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged gold theft from Sabarimala temple has returned to Kerala after completing evidence collection in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, police sources said on Sunday.

As part of the investigation, the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, was taken to Ballari, Bengaluru and Chennai for verification and evidence gathering. The team returned to the Crime Branch office in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday evening.

Earlier, on Friday, the SIT had searched a jewellery shop owned by Govardhan, who reportedly financed the gold-plating work of the temple’s sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frame, a project officially sponsored by Potti.

Following that, searches were also conducted at Potti’s residence in Srirampura, Bengaluru and at Smart Creation’s office in Chennai, the company responsible for the electroplating of gold-coated copper plates used on the dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols in 2019.

The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Ranni had earlier granted the SIT custody of Potti until October 30. Officials confirmed that the items seized during the operations will be submitted to the court shortly.

Meanwhile, the court has also issued a warrant for former Sabarimala administrative officer B Murari Babu, directing police to produce him on October 28. Babu, who was arrested by the SIT last week, is being sought for further questioning.

In a related development, retired Kerala High Court judge Justice K T Sankaran continued his inspection of the main strongroom at Aranmula to prepare an inventory of all valuables, including gold, as directed by the Kerala High Court. The review, which began on Saturday, is being conducted in the presence of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials, who confirmed that the strongroom houses donations made by devotees.

PTI