Special Investigation Team records statements of Tantris in Sabarimala gold theft case

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has recorded the statements of the Tantris in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case. The SIT recorded the statements of Sabarimala Tantris Kandararu Rajeevaru and Mohanaru. The Tantris said they knew Unnikrishnan Potty, who was arrested in the case.

The Tantris said the permission for the repairs was given as per the directions of the officials. They said that their only responsibility was to give permission after considering the will of God. Both came to the SIT office and gave their statements. The statements of both of them were recorded as they were senior Tantris of Sabarimala.

Meantime, the hearing on the bail plea of former devaswom president and commissioner N Vasu in the Sabarimala gold theft case has been completed. The verdict will be pronounced on December 3. His lawyers argued that N Vasu had no role in the theft of gold from the door frames. The SIT submitted the report to the court as requested by them.

Vasu's lawyers argued: In the letter sent by Murari Babu, the then Sabarimala executive officer, on February 16, 2019, requesting that the door frames be handed over to Unnikrishnan Potty, it was written that the door frames were gold-plated copper sheets. Vasu only wrote a note requesting an appropriate decision to be taken. Copper instead of gold was included in the note prepared to be placed in the board meeting. The board decided to hand over the door frames to Potty after N Vasu resigned as commissioner on March 14, 2019. However, the prosecution argued that if N Vasu gets bail, there is a possibility of destroying evidence. The defense said that since all the evidence is in the custody of the SIT, there is no possibility of destroying it.