'Investigate role of antiques smuggling gang in Sabarimala gold theft; Chennithala demands SIT

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has sent a letter to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Sabarimala gold theft case. His letter said the connection of the antiques smuggling gang in the gold theft should be investigated and that there was a transaction of 500 crores. He said that he is ready to reveal more information. A person with direct knowledge about this can cooperate with the investigation. Chennithala also alleged in the letter that some industrialists in the state are also involved in the Sabarimala gold theft. Chennithala sent the letter to the special investigation team yesterday.

Chennithala said that he knows a person who has direct knowledge of the gangs that steal archaeological objects and sell them in the black market. He is not ready to come before the public and reveal facts. However, he is ready to appear before the investigation team and the court and give his statement. I am saying all these after independently investigating. Some industrialists and rackets in the state are involved in the gold theft. Chennithala said the roles of some high-ranking officials of the devaswom board with this racket and of the archaeological teams should come under the purview of the investigation.

Meantime, the high court has directed former devaswom secretary Jayashree and former administrative officer S Sreekumar, accused in the case, to surrender before the investigating officers. The single bench's order was in the order rejecting the bail pleas of the two. Justice Badaruddin had rejected the bail pleas of both. The court had observed that there was a big conspiracy behind the theft of gold from the valuables at Sannidhanam and that big sharks having connections with the arrested Unnikrishnan Potty need to be exposed.