Authorities have apprehended Unnikrishnan Potty, the primary suspect in the ongoing gold theft investigation at Kerala’s renowned Sabarimala Temple. Potty, a businessman from Bengaluru, was taken into custody following extensive questioning by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). He was initially detained at his residence in Pulimath on Thursday and subsequently interrogated at the Crime Branch office in Thiruvananthapuram. The SIT officially confirmed his arrest on Friday after the detailed questioning. Following a mandatory medical examination at a government hospital, Potty was transported to Pathanamthitta. He is slated to appear before the Ranni Court, where investigators will seek his custody to conduct further inquiries. The SIT’s probe, mandated by the Kerala High Court, is examining the disappearance of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and the Sreekovil door frames. A key aspect of the investigation involves scrutinizing the actions of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) members and officials concerning the handover of gold-clad copper plates to Potty in 2019 for electroplating. A preliminary inquiry by the TDB Vigilance Wing had previously questioned Potty and recorded his statement. The High Court has set a stringent six-week deadline for the SIT to conclude its investigation into this high-profile case.
