Sabarimala gold theft: Investigation underway with caution, bigwigs under lens

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With great caution, the investigation team are traipsing ahead in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The SIT investigation concluded that the official documents were dodged and altered to pave the way for the gold theft. The documents supporting this have also been seized. At the time of the doorframe theft, CPM Pathanamthitta district committee member A. Padmakumar was the board president. Vasu, who later became the president, is also a CPM nominee.

Vasu, who was the Devaswom Commissioner, resigned on March 14, 2019. He later took over as the Board President in November. However, SIT concluded Vasu to be the brain behind turning gold-plated copper plates into bare copper plates. Those who were board members in 2019 are now accused in the gold theft case. It is indicated that they will also be arrested soon. Vasu, who was the Commissioner during Padmakumar's reign as President, was the brain behind the move. He returned as the Board President within months of stepping down as the Commissioner.

Political leaders are also under the shadow of arrest. Vasu, who was the Devaswom Commissioner twice and later the Board President, is a confidante of the CPM leadership. Vasu, a native of Kottarakkara's Poovattoor, was the private secretary of Minister P.K. Gurudasan from 2006-11. He had also served as the Kulakkada Panchayat President for a long time. Vasu was a member of the Vigilance Tribunal. He is currently an advocate in the Vanchiyoor court.

Though it was unprecedented for a former Devaswom Commissioner to become the Devaswom President, Vasu ascended to the highest office within Devaswom with ease. The SIT concluded that Vasu acted according to the whims of the political leadership in Sabarimala. Former executive officer Sudheesh Kumar and former administrative officer B. Muraribabu, who were arrested, have given statements saying every move they made was at the command of Vasu. The statement of former Thiruvabharanam Commissioner K.S. Baiju also ended up as a headache for Vasu. It is learnt that Unnikrishnan Potty has also stated Vasu's involvement.

The gold-plated doorframe at the sanctum sanctorum weighed 42.100 kg. 409 grams of gold were extracted from it. The High Court has raised suspicions that the door of the shrine was also broken. A detailed investigation is underway regarding this.