SIT arrests former Sabarimala chief priest Kandararu Rajeevaru in the gold theft case
The SIT had previously questioned Kandararu Rajeevar in connection with the Sabarimala gold smuggling case. Rajeevar had stated that he knew Unnikrishnan Potti but had issued the note based on the instructions of officials.
Sabarimala : In a major breakthrough in the Sabarimala gold theft case, Former Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeevar has been arrested in connection with the Sabarimala gold smuggling case. The Special Investigation Team recorded the arrest.
Rajeevar was taken into custody shortly after being summoned to the SIT office for questioning on Friday.
Earlier statements given by former Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar and others had alleged that it was then thantri Kandararu Rajeevar who brought first accused Unnikrishnan potty to Sabarimala.
It was also Rajeevar who issued the note stating that the gold-plated panels, where copper had begun to appear due to wear, could be taken for re-plating. However, the SIT had observed that the note made no mention of the fact that the panels had been gold-plated in 1998. It was this note that Murari Babu later altered the panel to describe it as copper sheets.
The SIT had previously questioned Kandararu Rajeevar in connection with the Sabarimala gold smuggling case. Rajeevar had stated that he knew Unnikrishnan Potti but had issued the note based on the instructions of officials.
Those arrested so far in the case include Unnikrishnan Potti, former Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar, former Devaswom Commissioner N. Vasu, former Administrative Officer Murari Babu, former Executive Officer D. Sudheesh Kumar, Smart Creations CEO Pankaj Bhandari, Bellary-based jewellery owner Govardhan, former administrative officer Sreekumar and former Devaswom board member N Vijaya Kumar.