Sabarimala gold theft; D Mani to be questioned today, probe into expatriate businessman's statement

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The special investigation team (SIT) will question D Mani (Diamond Mani), alleged by an expatriate businessman of being involved in the Sabarimala gold theft, today. The investigation team has confirmed that D Mani is Balamuruga of Dindigul. The businessman's statement is that a gang with links to the international mafia smuggled the Panchaloha idols from Kerala, including the idols. The interrogation is to clarify the truth of this.

The expatriate businessman's statement is that in addition to Sabarimala, the gold smuggling gang also targeted the idols of the Padmanabhaswamy temple. The expatriate businessman's statement is that Mani and his gang were introduced to people with people connected to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. The businessman revealed that this gang is still moving around with money to smuggle the idols.

D Mani and his gang targeted 1000 crores in Kerala. D Mani bought the Panchaloha idols. The businessman's statement said idols were smuggled from Sabarimala on a larger scale than gold melting. In 2019-20, four Panchaloha idols were sold to an international antiquity smuggling gang. D Mani bought these. Unnikrishnan Potty was the middleman. The statement also said the idols were given by a high-ranking official in charge of Sabarimala administration.

The money for smuggling the idols was handed over in the capital city on October 26, 2020. The statement also stated that only D Mani, Unnikrishnan Potty and a top official were present at the time of transferring the money. The businessman said that he knew all these things firsthand. However, the special investigation team is examining whether the statement is true. So far, no information has been received about the loss of the Panchaloha idols.

Meantime, the court has sought the government's stand on the plea in the high court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case. The special team will be replying to this.