The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday questioned Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeeva in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case.
He reached the ED office in Kochi around 2.45 pm. The interrogation lasted about four hours. The ED is learned to have questioned him about his association with Unnikrishnan Potti, the main accused in the case.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Kerala High Court alleged that Mr. Rajeevaru violated the temple manual by allowing Mr. Potti, who was brought to the temple as an assistant in 2007, to dismantle the gilded molds covering the temple’s stone carvings, doors and statues and take them to Ambnaat’s restoration metal factory, Smart Puri.
Mr. Rajeevaru, who was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for alleged criminal complicity and conspiracy in the “dishonest misappropriation” of the temple’s gold-plated religious artifacts in 2019, was released on bail on February 18 after completing 41 days in custody.
The ED also looked into the SIT’s alleged findings related to Tantri’s financial transactions. He claimed he had substantial deposits in a private financial institution. The Kollam Vigilance Court, while granting him bail in the Sabarimala gold embezzlement cases, found that the SIT had failed to produce substantial evidence to support the charges leveled against Mr. Rajeevaru.
The ED on Tuesday questioned N. Vasu, former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, as part of its probe into the Sabarimala gold theft case under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Published – March 4, 2026 8:13 PM IST
