Former TDB President A Padmakumar Arrested in Sabarimala Gold Theft Case

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A Padmakumar has been arrested in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case. The special investigation team recorded the arrest on Thursday after questioning him for nearly four hours at the Crime Branch headquarters. Investigators concluded that Padmakumar had a role in the missing gold at Sabarimala.

The case had earlier named the 2019 Devaswom Board as an accused. Former TDB commissioner and president N Vasu had also been arrested in the same case. According to the investigation team, Padmakumar allegedly helped the first accused, Unnikrishnan Potti.

With Padmakumar’s arrest, the total number of people taken into custody in the gold theft case has risen to six. The special investigation team recently carried out an inspection at Sannidhanam as part of the probe into the theft of gold from the dvarapalaka decorative panels and the sreekovil door frames. Samples were collected from the door frames, the dvarapalaka sculptures, and the stone pillars surrounding the sreekovil.

CPI(M) State Secretary M. V. Govindan responded to the developments, stating that the party will not protect anyone found guilty in the case. He said the investigation would not put the CPI(M) on the defensive in any way. “The special investigation team, acting under the High Court’s directions, can arrest anyone it finds responsible. Whether someone is guilty will be determined by the court. The CPI(M) has a firm position, and the party’s hands are clean,” he said.

Govindan added that no amount of gold should go missing from Sabarimala and that anyone involved, regardless of their position, should be brought to justice. “No one will be allowed to tarnish the party. If the court finds someone guilty, the party will take the required organisational action at that time,” he said.