No connection in Sabarimala gold loot; SIT gives clean chit to Diamond Mani

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) gave a clean chit to Dindigul native D Mani (Diamond Mani) in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The SIT gave a clean chit to D Mani in the investigation progress report submitted to the High Court. The SIT questioned D Mani based on the statement of an expatriate businessman that gold ornaments from Sabarimala were smuggled abroad. However, the report also states that there is no evidence to clarify Mani's connection with the expatriate.

There is no evidence yet to establish D Mani's links with Unnikrishnan Potty, the main accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The report also states that more information needs to be obtained from the expatriate businessman.

D Mani, a native of Dindigul in Tamil Nadu, who has links with international antiquities dealers, had told the SIT that he was in Thiruvananthapuram as part of business deals to sell gold. It was suspected that these were ornaments from Sabarimala. This prompted the investigation to focus on Mani.

Meanwhile, D Mani reiterated that he had no connection with the gold robbery or with Unnikrishnan Potty. Mani had earlier said that the officials mistook him for another person, and he had no links with the old smuggling cabal anywhere.