SIT confirms existence of a person ‘D Mani’ in Sabarimala gold theft case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has confirmed the existence of a person D Mani, as mentioned by a businessman abroad, who bought the idols of Sabarimala. The SIT contacted the group of D Mani of Chennai, mentioned in the businessman's statement. The SIT team have gone to Chennai to record statements.

The businessman's statement is that four Panchaloha idols in Sabarimala were smuggled and bought by a person known as D Mani. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala informed the SIT that the businessman knew some information.

Meantime, K P Sankaradas and N Vijayakumar, former members of the Travancore Devaswom Board, have filed anticipatory bail pleas in the Sabarimala gold theft case. Both filed anticipatory bail pleas in the Kollam Vigilance Court. Both were members of the board where A Padmakumar was the president.

However, the Kerala High Court had criticized the SIT for not investigating Sankaradas and Vijayakumar. It was a collective decision of the Devaswom Board to remove the gold-plated sheets of the Dwarapalaka idols and give it to Unnikrishnan Potty. No one should be exempted from responsibility. The court had also said that an investigation after closing all the loopholes is needed. The duo sought anticipatory bail, fearing that there was a possibility of arrest after this.