Bengaluru-based businessman Unnikrishnan Potty arrested in Sabarimala gold missing case

New Delhi: In the latest development in the Sabarimala gold missing case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) nabbed the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty, news agency PTI reported on Friday. Potty was arrested from his residence at Pulimath. He was then taken to the Crime Branch office in Thiruvananthapuram for interrogation.

The SIT, after interrogation, recorded the arrest on Friday. He was also taken to the government hospital for a medical examination.

The SIT investigating the Sabarimala gold case has claimed in its remand report that Potty was aided by Devaswom Board officials and others in the conspiracy.

HIGHLIGHTS

• SIT arrested the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty from his Pulimath residence in the Sabarimala gold missing case.
• He was interrogated and medically examined before presented in court.
• SIT alleged Potty, with Devaswom Board officials, conspired to steal 4.5 kg gold.
• Potty allegedly melted and reused gold; court sent him to SIT custody till 30 October.

The controversy revolved around 2019 restoration work, when 4.5 kg of gold disappeared from Dwarapalaka idols. The Kerala High Court has instructed the team investigating the case to submit the final report within six weeks.

The remand report stated that Unnikrishnan Potty applied to the Devaswom Board for gold plating, intending to profit through cheating.

According to the SIT, Potty took the idols out of the Sabarimala and took them to Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. He allegedly took the idols to Smart Creations, where he separated the gold and gold-plated with a lesser quantity.

The SIT report further stated that the Potty kept the gold at several locations under the pretext of Pooja and retained most of the gold for himself. The accused was produced before the Ranni First Class Judicial Magistrate Court in Pathanamthitta. The judges sent him to SIT custody till 30 October.