Entire Sabarimala governing body during gold theft arrested: KP Shankaradas still in hospital; decision on remand expected today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Devaswom Board member K.P. Shankaradas has been arrested in the Sabarimala gold robbery case after the High Court criticism of being hospitalised since being made an accused. He was a CPI representative and is the eleventh accused. It is a coincidence that the arrest was made at the time when the Makara Jyothi was lit in Sabarimala. With this, the entire governing body of the time has been arrested. President Padmakumar and board member N Vijayakumar were arrested earlier.

The investigation team led by SP Sasidharan reached the private hospital in Chakka around 6:30 pm yesterday and registered the arrest. Shankaradas was in the ICU, citing paralysis and cardiac arrest. The arrest came after he was shifted to a room yesterday.

The arrest was made in the presence of the special tahsildar after discussions with the doctors. The Kollam vigilance court was informed. The remand report will be submitted today. The judge will visit the hospital and remand Shankaradas. Whether to transfer him to the Medical College Hospital will be decided based on the medical report.

It was found that the minutes of the board dated March 19, 2019 were tampered with to pave the way for Potty to loot the gold. Padmakumar crossed out the reference in the minutes that said 'gold-plated brass' with green ink and wrote it as copper. Shankaradas has signed below this.

No other options, hence arrest

• A team of doctors from the Medical College Hospital had examined the medical records. It is concluded that there was no paralysis. The medical report was not presented yesterday, when the Kollam court considered the anticipatory bail application.
• The High Court had asked what nonsense was happening, mentioning Shankaradas' hospitalisation and highlighting Shankaradas's son's high-ranking position as a police officer. It was also said that respect should be shown.

Shankaradas had approached the Supreme Court to remove the High Court's reference to joint responsibility. The Supreme Court made a scathing remark that "You didn't even spare God."

12 arrested so far

👉Unnikrishnan Potty------ Oct. 17

(Sponsor)

👉Murari Babu------- Oct. 23

(Former Administrative Officer)

👉D.Sudheesh Kumar-------- Nov. 1

(Former Executive Officer)

👉K.S.Baiju-------- Nov. 6

(Former Thiruvabharanam Commissioner)-

👉N.Vasu---------- Nov. 11

(Former President and Commissioner of the Board)

👉A.Padmakumar----------- Nov. 20

(Former President of the Board)

👉S.Sreekumar------- Dec. 17

(Former Administrative Officer)

👉Pankaj Bhandari------------ Dec. 19

(Gold separating establishment owner)

👉Govardhan------- Dec.19

(Jewellery owner in Bellary)

👉Vijayakumar------- Dec.29

(Former Board Member)

👉Kandararu Rajeevaru------- Jan.-9

(Temple Thantri)

👉K.P.Sankaradas------- Jan.14

(Former Board Member)