Sabarimala gold theft: Former Thiruvabharanam commissioner arrested to be produced in court today 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) commissioner K S Baiju arrested in the Sabarimala gold theft case will be produced in the court today. He will be produced in the Magistrate Court in Ranni by noon. The special investigation team (SIT) arrested him last night. There will be more arrests in the coming days.

When the gold-plated sheets were removed on July 19, 2019, Baiju was not at the Sannidhanam. A goldsmith was not brought to record the quantity and weight of the gold. The investigating officers believe that he deliberately stayed away from the plan of the main accused.

Baiju of Chavara in Kollam is the seventh accused in the case. This is the fourth arrest in the gold theft case. Baiju, who was taken into custody from his flat at Pangappara in Sreekaryam, was questioned at the crime branch office. His arrest was recorded later. The Thiruvabharanam Commissioner is fully responsible in the devaswom board for the valuables including gold.

Former Sabarimala administrative officer Murari Babu, executive officer D Sudheesh Kumar and Unnikrishnan Potty were earlier arrested in the case. The Ranni court will consider today the custody plea of Murari Babu and Sudheesh Kumar. The investigating officers have decided to take them into custody and question them in detail.