A special investigation team (SIT) has made startling revelations in the Kerala High Court regarding the ongoing probe into the Sabarimala temple gold scam. The team has stated that the accused in the case had a larger plan to dismantle more gold-clad items from the temple's sacred sanctum sanctorum (sreekovil) to extract and misappropriate the precious metal.
SIT Opposes Bail, Alleges Organised Crime
In statements submitted to oppose the bail petitions of the main accused, the SIT asserted that all criminal activities uncovered were part of a larger conspiracy and constituted organised crime. The investigating officer, S Sasidharan, filed these statements against Ballari-based jeweller Roddam Pandu Rangaiah Naga Govardhan.
Govardhan was arrested on December 19 in two separate cases. The allegations state that he dishonestly misappropriated gold from the temple and accepted 474.97 grams of gold extracted from the covering plates of the dwarapalaka (door guardian) idols. This extraction allegedly took place at the Smart Creations workshop during gold-plating work in October 2019.
Countering the Accused's Claims
The SIT provided detailed counter-arguments to Govardhan's submissions. It noted that Govardhan, a self-proclaimed ardent devotee of Lord Ayyappa who has visited the temple since 1995, had professional knowledge of the gold cladding of the Sabarimala sreekovil done by the UB Group in 1998.
The probe team strongly countered Govardhan's claim that he paid Rs 14.97 lakh to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for the gold he received. The SIT clarified that the amount was transferred to the executive officer of the Sabarimala Sree Annadana Trust and to prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti, not to the TDB, which is the ultimate custodian of the temple's valuables.
Furthermore, the SIT dismissed allegations of intimidation during the investigation and illegal seizure of gold worth Rs 59.40 lakh from Govardhan's jewellery. It stated the recovery was made based on the petitioner's voluntary confession, without any threat, and the seizure was conducted via a proper mahazar in the presence of witnesses. The entire process was videographed, the SIT informed the court.
Probe Awaits Forensic Report, Custodial Interrogation Needed
The SIT contended that a detailed custodial interrogation of Govardhan is still essential, especially as the forensic examination report is pending. To ascertain the actual quantity of gold cladding on the transported plates, samples from similar gold-clad plates have been sent to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram for forensic analysis.
The investigation team also argued that Govardhan's claims of spending money on temple offerings and donations do not absolve him of criminal liability. It highlighted that he is financially influential and possesses the capability to influence witnesses and tamper with evidence if granted bail.
Meanwhile, Justice A Badharudeen has adjourned the hearing of the bail petitions filed by Govardhan and former TDB president A Padmakumar to January 8. The adjournment came after their counsel sought more time to file replies to the SIT's statements.
