Unnikrishnan Potty arrested after 10 hours of questioning, to be taken to Pathanamthitta

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Unnikrishnan Potty, the first accused in the Sabarimala gold theft cases, has been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The arrest was recorded late last night after around 10 hours of questioning. He will be taken to Pathanamthitta this morning and produced before the Ranni court by noon. Potty was taken into custody yesterday morning from his house at Pulimath near Kilimanoor.

The questioning was led by SP Sashidharan, based on the documents and evidence seized from the Devaswom Board headquarters, Sabarimala, Chennai Smart Creations, and Hyderabad. Inspections are still continuing in Hyderabad and Chennai.

The investigation team questioned Potty about the amount of gold stolen and the alleged involvement of Devaswom officials and board members. Officials who reportedly helped him will also be interrogated. The High Court had directed that the report be submitted within six weeks.

The theft took place in two instances — in March 2019, when gold-clad panels of the Dwarapalaka sculptures were removed, and in August 2019, when gold was stolen from the temple doors. So far, it has been confirmed that 474.9 grams of gold were stolen, but Vigilance sources indicate that the total amount could be 989 grams- about 124 sovereigns. The warranty for the gold plating was in Potty’s name, and he took advantage of this to commit the fraud.

Questions that need to be answered

1. The statement by Smart Creations CEO Pankaj Bhandari was that 409 grams of gold from the door frame and 577 grams of gold from the Dwarapalaka sculptures were separated. After gold plating the door frame, the remaining 474.9 grams of gold had been handed over to Unnikrishnan Potty. Where is this gold now?
2. The 14 gold-plated sheets taken from Sannidhanam were transported through Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, and reached Smart Creations for re-plating only after 39 days. Where were they kept during that period?
3. The Crime Branch suspects that copper sheets were made using moulds of the old plates, and gold was then plated on them. There are suspicions that the original gold sheets were cut and sold to wealthy devotees. Who were the buyers?
4. The executive officer’s letter mentioned “gold-coated copper sheets.” Later, in the Devaswom Commissioner’s letter and the Board’s order, the same term was used. Even the mahazar prepared in May 2019 described them as copper sheets. Who all were involved in planning this fraud?