SIT Searches House of Prime Accused in Sabarimala Gold Loss Case

Thiruvananthapuram: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the alleged gold loss at Sabarimala Temple searched the residence of the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, in Pulimath on Saturday. The search was conducted by SIT officials headed by Investigation Officer S Sasidharan around 3 pm, focusing on retrieving digital devices and documents linked to Potty as part of the sprawling inquiry.
Potty, who was earlier sent to the custody of SIT by the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Ranni, is currently being interrogated at the Crime Branch office here. The SIT told the court on Friday that Potty needed to be questioned further to trace the missing gold, collect other evidence, and identify other accused persons in the case. The team also informed the court that Potty would be taken to other states for evidence collection.
The SIT, formed following a directive from the Kerala High Court, is investigating two cases- one related to the gold loss from the gold-cladded copper plates of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols, and another concerning the gold missing from the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple.
The High Court had noted that the weight of the Dwarapalaka plates had reduced after they were handed over to Potty for electroplating in 2019.