Kerala Minister Accused in Sabarimala Gold Theft Case; BJP Demands Central Probe

BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar has alleged that Kerala Devaswom Minister V. N. Vasavan is linked to those involved in the Sabarimala gold theft case and has demanded a central investigation into the matter.

The case pertains to the alleged misappropriation of gold used for plating the sanctum doors and ornaments at the Sabarimala temple. The main accused, contractor Unnikrishnan Potty, who was tasked with gold-plating the temple doors, is alleged to have diverted a portion of the gold meant for the work.

“It’s from government sources that we have received information indicating clear linkages between Minister Vasavan and the ecosystem responsible for looting 4.5 kg of gold from Sabarimala,” State BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar said while speaking to India Today.

He added that the party was not “prejudging his guilt” but urged that Vasavan step aside from his position to allow an impartial investigation.

Chandrasekhar also demanded that the Devaswom Board be dissolved and that a central agency take over the probe into the theft.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has so far recovered around 400 grams of the stolen gold from a jeweller in Ballari, Karnataka.

Former Travancore Devaswom Board officer B. Murari Babu, along with the main accused Unnikrishnan Potty, has been arrested for allegedly submitting proposals that misrepresented gold plates as copper.

The SIT, in its report, observed that temple officials themselves were involved in the misappropriation of gold.