Recovery of Sabarimala gold: Raids at Potty's house and Govardhan's jewellery shop in Bengaluru: Evidence collection at Chennai Smart Creations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 176 grams (22 sovereigns) of gold have been recovered from the Bengaluru residence of Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold robbery case, and from his friend Govardhan's Roddam Jewellery in Bellary.

The special investigation team has concluded that this is part of the two kilos (250 sovereigns) of gold stolen from the sculptures and doorframes of the Sabarimala shrine. The gold will be produced in court. A scientific test will be conducted to find out whether it was stolen from Sabarimala. There are also indications that the stolen gold was converted into jewellery.

It was found that 478 grams (59.75 sovereigns) were stolen from gold plates alone. Unnikrishnan Potty had given a statement that he sold the gold that was separated at Smart Creations to Govardhan. Govardhan's statement is that he had no role in the gold robbery and had bought the gold from Potty without knowing that it was stolen. The special investigation team went to Bengaluru with Potty based on this information.

Bank documents and land documents were seized in the raid at Potty's house. Bengaluru police are also participating in the raid along with the SIT. Potty was taken to Smart Creations in Chennai, where gold was separated, yesterday evening and evidence was collected. CEO Pankaj Bhandari and employees were present at the spot. Efforts are also being made to seize the 109 grams of gold given as Making Charges. Unnikrishnan Potty's custody will end on the 30th.

Now to those who shared the money from selling the gold

Only by knowing who shared the money received from selling the gold can the conspiracy involving those who sent the plates and doorframe and those who made the decisions be unravelled. The answer to where the rest of the looted gold is must also be found. The SIT's move is to make Govardhan a witness as some gold has been recovered. Potti had admitted to SP Sasidharan that he sold the gold.

Thanthri performed puja at Govardhan's jewellery

PATHANAMTHITTA: Sabarimala Thanthri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu was the one who performed puja and lit the Bhadradeepam for the inauguration of Govardhan's jewellery, from where gold was found. The inauguration was on July 3, 2023. Bhagavathi seva and Ganapati homam were performed at the house. Govardhan sponsored the relocation of the door of the shrine. The then Devaswom President A Padmakumar had honored Govardhan at the reception given at the Elampallil temple while the door was being brought.

I performed puja as invited by Unnikrishnan Potty. I don't know anything else. I have no previous acquaintance with Govardhan. Potti was active in Sabarimala before I came itself. That's how I got to know him.

-Thanthri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanararu