Foreign trips also under probe; Kadakampally did not give clear answers on Potty, says investigation team

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The investigation team has said that the answers given by former minister Kadakampally Surendran to questions related to Unnikrishnan Potty in the Sabarimala gold theft case were largely unclear.

The team has raised doubts over whether writing a note on an application seeking help for Potty was a normal procedure. The minister’s reply that he does no interfere in the matters of the Devaswom Board was also found unsatisfactory. Investigators said there was no clear explanation regarding the alleged finacial dealings with Potty. For these reasons, the team is preparing to question Kadakampally again after recording Potty’s statement.

Sources said Kadakampally became emotional during the three-hour-long questioning by the SIT. He told the investigators that he had no knowledge of or involvement in the gold theft. He also requested that he should not be referred to as a gold smuggler, saying the allegations were causing him mental distress. Kadakampally asked the investigation team to bring clarity to the matter. The investigation team will also examine the statements of Padmakumar and Vasu. The minister will be questioned again after collecting details of his foreign trips while in office.

Kadakampally's foreign trips during ministerial tenure
November 2017: Britain
March 2018: Germany, France, Italy
March 2018: Vatican
April 2018: UAE
July 2018: United States
January 2019: Spain
February 2019: UAE
April 2019: UAE
May 2019: UAE
September 2019: Kazakhstan
October 2019: UAE
October 2019: Japan

(Trips to the Vatican, the United States, and two visits to the UAE were for personal purposes.)