SIT grills actor Jayaram in Sabarimala gold theft case, move to make him witness

CHENNAI: The special investigation team (SIT) has recorded the statement of actor Jayaram in the Sabarimala gold theft case. He was questioned at his residence in Chennai. Jayaram clarified that his relationship with the main accused in the case, Unnikrishnan Potty, started in Sabarimala. The actor told the team that Potty had come to his house several times to conduct poojas. Jayaram told the investigation team that he was not aware of Potty's financial dealings or fraud. Jayaram is likely to be made a witness in the case.

Jayaram had earlier said that since Potty knew that he was an Ayyappa devotee, he had told him that he could bring the gold sheets of Sabarimala to his house and perform puja. The actor said that he had attended the pooja of the door frames performed at Smart Creations when Potty invited him. Had also attended the procession of the door frames when brought to Elampally temple in Kottayam. Jayaram clarified that there is no connection other than the belief in the poojas.

Meantime, former administrative officer S Sreekumar, arrested in the case of stealing gold from the Dwarapalaka idols in Sabarimala, was granted bail yesterday. Kollam Vigilance Court Judge Dr C S Mohit granted conditional bail to the sixth accused Sreekumar on the 43rd day after his arrest. The bail was granted taking into account the defense argument that Sreekumar had joined the job as an administrative officer days before the sheets were smuggled and that he signed the document related to the case on the instructions of the higher officials.

The prosecution had argued that granting bail at the crucial stage of the investigation would affect the probe. Sreekumar is the second person to be released from jail after former Sabarimala administrative officer Murari Babu.