A Padma Kumar seeks time to appear for interrogation in Sabarimala gold theft case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former devaswom board president A Padma Kumar has sought time to appear for interrogation in the Sabarimala gold theft case. He approached the special investigation team with a new request in the wake of his close relative’s death. He will not be grilled in the next two days. He will be grilled at any center of the crime branch in Pathanamthitta.

The investigation team assess that the situation that led to the arrest of N Vasu also exists in Padma Kumar’s case. Vasu was arrested the other day in a case related to the gold theft in the door frame. The investigation team informed the court that it was under Vasu's leadership that the gold-plated door frame was marked as copper and was given to the arrested Unnikrishnan Potty. Padma Kumar was serving as the president then. The investigation team has received evidence that Padma Kumar accepted the orders forwarded by Vasu, who was the commissioner. It is being investigated whether this is part of a conspiracy.

Meantime, the special investigation team has filed an application in the Pathanamthitta court to impose the Prevention of Corruption Section in the Sabarimala gold theft case. Legal advice has been sought as it has been found that the Devaswom Board officials and representatives have committed corruption. Once this section is imposed, the vigilance court will consider the case later. Therefore, the investigation team had also submitted an application to the court yesterday to transfer the case to the Kollam Vigilance Court.