The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the cases related to the gold missing from the Sabarimala temple in Kerala arrested prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty on Friday, officials said, as reported by PTI.
Police sources said that Potty, a Bengaluru-based businessman who was taken into custody from his residence in Pulimathu near here on Thursday, was being questioned at the Thiruvananthapuram crime police office.
After interrogation, the SIT recorded his arrest on Friday, sources told PTI.
Later, Potty was taken to a government hospital for medical examination.
The SIT will shift him to Pathanamthitta in the afternoon. Later he will be produced before the court in Ranni, Pathanamthitta.
The SIT will also seek Potty’s custody for detailed interrogation.
The SIT set up on the instructions of the Kerala High Court is currently investigating two cases – one related to the missing gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and the other related to the loss of gold from the Sreekovil door frame.
The SIT officials are now investigating the possible involvement of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) members and officials in the transfer of gilded copper plates in 2019 from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door jambs to Potta for electroplating.
As part of the earlier preliminary investigation, the TDB Vigilance Wing had already interrogated Potty over two days and recorded his statement.
The High Court gave the Special Investigation Team a six-week deadline to complete its investigation.
