SIT gets custody of Padmakumar in Sabarimala gold theft case

KOLLAM: Former devaswom board president A Padma Kumar, arrested in the Sabarimala gold theft case, is in the custody of the special investigation team. He will be in the custody of Kollam Vigilance Court till 5 pm tomorrow. He will be produced in the court after that.

Padmakumar was arrested on November 20. Padmakumar is the sixth person and second board president to be arrested in the case. Unnikrishnan Potty, former devaswom board administrative officer Murari Babu, former executive officer D Sudheesh Kumar, former Thiruvabharanam commissioner K S Baiju, and former devaswom commissioner and board president N Vasu are the others arrested besides Padmakumar.

Padmakumar had earlier told the investigating officers that people he sees as godlike are behind the theft. The SIT will now question him in detail, including these matters.
The SIT has found that it was Padmakumar who first directed the devaswom board to hand over the frames to Unnikrishnan Potty. Devaswom Board officials have stated that Padmakumar gave instructions in favor of Potty. It was also revealed that it was Padmakumar who gave complete freedom to Unnikrishnan Potty in Sabarimala. Padmakumar is the eighth accused in the case.