In a major escalation of the investigation into the Sabarimala gold smuggling scandal, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday arrested former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) member N Vijayakumar. This marks the second high-profile arrest in the case targeting the previous board's tenure, following the recent custody of former TDB president A Padmakumar.
Arrest Follows Repeated Summons Ignored
The SIT took Vijayakumar into custody after he failed to respond to multiple summons for questioning. The probe team had issued notices to him and another former member, K P Shankardas, acting on observations from the Kerala High Court. The court had noted that the investigation seemed selectively focused and urged a thorough examination of all board members' roles.
Vijayakumar, a local committee member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), was the party's nominee on the board led by A Padmakumar. His arrest came days after Padmakumar was taken into custody, with investigators emphasizing the principle of "collective responsibility" of the board in the alleged offences.
Fresh Evidence Contradicts Earlier Claims
Investigators stated that the arrest was based on new findings that directly contradict Vijayakumar's previous statements. He had earlier claimed that the alleged irregularities involving gold-plated items were managed solely by administrative officials, without board involvement.
However, evidence gathered by the SIT indicates that the matter was discussed in TDB meetings. This points towards collective knowledge and potential involvement of the board members in the decisions, moving the case beyond mere administrative lapses.
Political Repercussions and Probe's Future
The arrest is seen as a significant setback for the ruling CPM, which is already facing political pressure following Padmakumar's detention. The developments strengthen the investigators' case that the alleged irregularities were not isolated incidents but involved decision-making at the TDB's highest level.
The SIT has indicated that the probe into the Sabarimala gold smuggling case is ongoing. Further questioning and more arrests have not been ruled out as the team continues to unravel the layers of the scandal that occurred during the previous board's tenure.
