SIT grilling A Padma Kumar at an undisclosed center in Sabarimala gold theft case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Travancore Devasom Board president A Padma Kumar appeared before the special investigation team (SIT) in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft. He is being grilled by a team led by SIT head SP S Sasidharan at an undisclosed center in Thiruvananthapuram. N Vasu, who was devaswom commissioner when the gold theft happened was arrested earlier. The SIT decided to question the then board president Padma Kumar based on the statements of Vasu.

Padma Kumar had reached the capital city from his house in Aranmula. He was not issued a prior notice. The SIT had asked Padma Kumar to reach the capital city today. N Vasu has been remanded in SIT custody till 4 pm today. Vasu and Padma Kumar may be questioned together. There is a possibility that Padma Kumar is likely to be arrested after the interrogation.

The SIT is of the belief that Padma Kumar had gone out of the way and helped Unnikrishnan Potty, the main accused in the gold theft case. The SIT has also received indications that there are financial dealings between the two. Padma Kumar will have to face questions about these financial dealings. It is reported that all the statements of those arrested earlier in the Sabarimala gold theft are against Padma Kumar. It is reported that their statements indicate that the order registering gold as copper was issued on the advice of Padma Kumar.

Padma Kumar was the board president when the gold and door frames of the Dwarapalaka idols in Sabarimala were taken for repair in 2019. The investigation team found that it was under Vasu's leadership that marked the gold-plated door frames as copper plated and gave it to Unnikrishnan Potty. The investigation team has got evidence that Padma Kumar accepted the orders forwarded by Vasu, who was the commissioner. It is being investigated whether this was part of a conspiracy.