Doors open for ED to investigate Sabarimala gold theft; New headache for CPM?

KOCHI: The Devaswom bench's clarification about the High Court not prohibiting the investigation into the black money case in the Sabarimala gold theft has paved the way for the ED to enter the fray.

The High Court directed the Enforcement Directorate to file a new application in the Ranni Magistrate's Court, seeking the transfer of a copy of the FIR registered by the Crime Branch in the gold robbery case, along with the statements. The Magistrate's court should take an appropriate decision after hearing the government's arguments.

Meanwhile, the court granted a one-and-a-half-month extension to the SIT to investigate the case, to examine transactions related to the Devaswom Board from 2014 to 2025.

The Devaswom bench comprising Justice V Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar assessed the investigation as satisfactory. The six-week time allotted by the court to the investigation team had expired. The SIT submitted its progress report to the court on Wednesday.

The ED's application was rejected by the Magistrate's Court because it was a sensitive case supervised by the High Court. The Assistant Director of the ED's Kochi Zonal Office approached the High Court against this.

The ED argued that the FIR and other documents are public records. The court clarified that a fresh petition can be filed in the trial court by explaining the exact reasons and facts.

1 The ED suspects that black money transactions were carried out in Bengaluru in connection with the gold heist. Currently, the Special Investigation Team has filed charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act. It will also investigate the black money transaction.

2 If the ED takes over the investigation, the government and the CPM are likely to be in the dock. The party is worried about the chances of Kadakampally Surendran, former Devaswom Minister, getting into the accused list. It is feared that an attempt will be made to put the entire government under suspicion.

3 With the SIT clarifying in the High Court on Wednesday that they are investigating transactions up to 2025, there is a possibility that the ED will turn against those currently in power.