Sabarimala Gold Missing: Key Sponsor Potty Arrested

Unnikrishnan Potty, a central figure and sponsor linked to the Sabarimala Temple gold theft scandal, has been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT took Potty, a Bengaluru-based businessman, into custody on Thursday from his residence in Pulimath and subjected him to hours of questioning. His arrest was officially recorded on Friday after the interrogation at the Crime Branch office in Thiruvananthapuram. Following the arrest and a necessary medical check-up, Potty was transferred to Pathanamthitta. He is scheduled to appear in the Ranni Court, where the SIT will seek to obtain his custody for a more thorough investigation into the missing gold. The SIT is investigating two primary cases concerning the disappearance of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and the Sreekovil door frames. A critical part of their inquiry involves understanding the actions of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) members and officials who permitted the electroplating of gold-clad copper plates by Potty in 2019. Potty had previously been questioned and had his statement taken by the TDB Vigilance Wing during an initial inquiry. The Kerala High Court has imposed a six-week deadline for the SIT to complete its comprehensive investigation into the temple’s gold assets.