In a pivotal moment for the Sabarimala gold theft investigation, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested Unnikrishnan Potti, identified as the principal accused. Following over ten hours of intense interrogation, Potti was taken into custody, signaling a major breakthrough in the case concerning the alleged removal of valuable gold from sacred structures within the Sabarimala temple. The missing gold is believed to have been taken from the dwarapalaka statues and the kattilappadi leading into the Sreekovil, the inner sanctum.
The SIT has initiated two First Information Reports (FIRs) against Potti, who allegedly used his status as a sponsor to illicitly remove gold. Ten individuals are currently named in the FIRs, with Potti at the center of both. The investigation points to the misappropriation of approximately 475 grams of gold, valued at around 56 sovereigns. Investigators are working under the premise that only three grams were utilized for re-plating temple ornaments, while the remaining gold was allegedly stolen by Potti. He is also suspected of defrauding individuals in Bengaluru by collecting payment for plating services that were never rendered.
The probe has now widened to include scrutiny of senior officials from the Travancore Devaswom Board, with potential administrative lapses and complicity under examination. The timeline of events points to a proposal in February 2019 to re-plate gold-covered copper sheets from the sanctum. A critical change in the documentation, where ‘gold’ was omitted from the description of the materials, has drawn the attention of the SIT. This alteration has led to the Commissioner, Executive Officer, Administrative Officer, and Assistant Engineer being investigated for possible serious procedural misconduct and abuse of power.