Lightning raids at 21 centres as part of Operation Golden Shadow; ED and SIT with simultaneous interventions to investigate Sabarimala gold robbery

KOCHI/SABARIMALA: The ED conducted simultaneous raids at 21 locations, including the Travancore Devaswom headquarters, and the SIT opened and checked the strong room at the Sannidhanam. The Sabarimala gold robbery case became more crucial with the two intervening in real time. The ED seized digital evidence and documents related to money transactions. The ED's lightning raid was to confirm the information obtained during the preliminary investigation into irregularities that took place from 2019 to 2025 and to seize evidence.

The raids, codenamed 'Operation Golden Shadow', were carried out at the Sannidhanam, the houses of the accused, and in Chennai and Bellary. The raids, which began in the early hours of the morning, continued late into the night in some places. When Unnikrishnan Potty sponsored the new door, the old gold-plated door and doorframe donated by Vijay Mallya, were shifted to the Sannidhanam strong room. The SIT inspection, which lasted until night, was to check its weight. Samples were collected. It was also checked whether the Dwarapalaka sculptures from the old flagpole were in the strong room.

The ED indicated that it had obtained information about the accused's connections, financial transactions, friendships, etc., inside and outside Kerala. The raids were conducted at the Devaswom offices in Sannidhanam, the Devaswom Board headquarters, Potty's house in Thiruvananthapuram, the house of former board president A Padmakumar in Aranmula, the house of Murari Babu in Changanassery, the house of former board president N Vasu in Thiruvananthapuram, the office and house of Pankaj Bhandari- owner of Chennai Smart Creations, and the house of gold merchant Govardhan in Bellary, Karnataka.

Some centres were also searched in connection with the bank accounts and money transactions of the accused. The ED's inspection in Sabarimala excluded Devaswom officials. The ED is mainly investigating the black money transaction in the gold robbery.

Move to arrest

• ED assesses that the connivance of the high-ups in the Devaswom Board was obtained, including in smuggling gold plates
• The seized documents will be analysed, and the accused will be questioned. The arrest will be made after that. All those who have been made accused by the SIT are also accused in the ED case.

New cases, 10 accused?

SIT says there will be more than one case in the gold robbery, in addition to the current two cases. It is learned that the cases are for the looting of gold present in the door and flagpole of the shrine. There will be 10 accused. The cases will be registered by next week. It is indicated that former Devaswom president PS Prashanth and the then members of the governing body will be involved in the case. The number of cases may increase depending on the findings of the inspection in the strong room at the Sannidhanam. Since the collection of evidence has been completed, the SIT will not oppose the bail of those arrested who have not committed serious crimes. The statements of the scientists at VSSC who conducted the scientific examination of the plates will be recorded soon. More arrests will be made thereafter.

Ashta Dikpalas in painted condition

• The SIT weighed the doorframe, which was covered in gold by Vijay Mallya, kept in the strong room of Sannidhanam. The head jamb and sill weigh 38 kg and the doorframe weighs 64 kg.
• The old furniture in the strong room was also examined. The Ashta Dikpalas on the old flagpole was found painted. The circumference of the new gold flagpole was also examined.
• The dragon statue on the Sopanam will be examined without disturbing it. The 10 members of the SIT who arrived today will return tomorrow. The new team will arrive tomorrow for inspection