Kollam: Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru was taken into custody on Thursday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Kerala High Court in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case. The Kollam Vigilance Court granted him one-day custody.

The granted the custody in connection with the alleged loss of gold from the doorframe of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) at the Sabarimala hill shrine. The order was passed by Vigilance Court Judge Mohit C S, allowing a plea filed by the SIT.

Rajeevaru, who is the 13th accused in the case, was later shifted to the SIT office in Thiruvananthapuram for interrogation. This is the first time investigators have sought his custody since his arrest on January 9.

SIT sources said a separate petition would also be filed seeking Rajeevaru’s custody in another case related to the loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols. In that case, he is listed as the 16th accused.

Earlier, the Tantri was released after being quizzed by the SIT. Another round of questioning took place, after which his arrest was recorded. The SIT had filed an application seeking his custody the previous day before the Vigilance Court.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the SIT are conducting separate but parallel investigations into the case. Police expect that questioning the Tantri in custody will provide more clarity on his alleged links with main accused Unnikrishnan Potti, the Vajivahanam possession matter, and documents recovered during a raid at his residence.

SIT probe

Meanwhile, the vigilance court is scheduled to pronounce its order on Friday on the bail petitions filed by former Sabarimala administrative officer B Murari Babu in both cases. The court heard the bail pleas on Thursday and reserved its orders.

The SIT was constituted following directions from a division bench of the Kerala High Court, which ordered a comprehensive investigation based on the findings of chemical analysis of samples collected from Sabarimala. The High Court has also directed the SIT to submit a status report by February 9.