SIT produces Vajivahanam recovered from Tantri's house in court

KOLLAM: The old Vajivahanam of Sabarimala, which was taken into custody by a special investigation team from Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru's Chengannur house the other day, was presented to the Kollam Vigilance Court. The Vajivahanam produced this afternoon was examined by an appraiser and taken over by the court.

The Vajivahanam is in the sculpture of a horse, which is considered to be the vehicle of Ayyappa. A new flagpole was installed at Sabarimala in 2017. With this, Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru demanded the Vajivahanam, which was on top of the old flagpole, as it was theirs according to tradition. The then Devaswom Board handed it over to the Tantri. Tantri said that the Vaji Vahana was at his residence during interrogation after his arrest. Although the Tantri said that he would return the Vajivahanam after the Sabarimala gold robbery came to light, the Devaswom Board was not ready to take it over as the case was ongoing.

Meanwhile, following the door frame case, the Kollam Vigilance Court has also granted permission to record the arrest of Kandararu Rajeevaru in the case of theft of gold from the Dwarapalaka sculpture of the Sabarimala shrine. The bail application of the Tantri, who is on remand in the door frame case, will be considered on the 19th.

Chennai Smart Creations, owned by accused Pankaj Bhandari, today sought more time to file the affidavit sought by the Vigilance Court. The affidavit was requested to be produced when permission was sought to obtain the signature of CEO Pankaj Bhandari, who is on remand, on a blank cheque to conduct financial transactions, including employee salaries. Bhandari was arrested on December 19. The remand of former Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar was extended till 29. Padmakumar was arrested on November 20.