Sabarimala Gold Heist: Key Sponsor Nabbed in Shocking Arrest

Thiruvananthapuram – In a major breakthrough, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Kerala High Court has detained Unnikrishnan Potti, a prominent sponsor linked to the Sabarimala temple’s recent gold-plating project, as the primary suspect in the brazen theft of sacred gold artifacts. The arrest came after an intense overnight interrogation session conducted by the SIT under the leadership of Superintendent of Police Bijoy.

Authorities confirmed that all procedural steps for the remand application have been finalized, with Potti scheduled to appear before the Ranni Court by midday Saturday. Prior to his court presentation, he underwent a routine medical checkup at Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital and will be held in SIT custody in the interim.

Under questioning, Potti confessed that the heist was meticulously orchestrated, and he implicated officials from the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in having prior knowledge of the plot. Sources close to the probe revealed that he further alleged the pilfered gold was distributed among TDB personnel, raising serious questions about internal oversight at one of India’s most revered pilgrimage sites.

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The investigation has also spotlighted a shadowy middleman identified as Kalpesh, who investigators view as a pivotal connector in the criminal network. Suspicion lingers over Smart Creations, the firm tasked with the recent gilding of the temple’s lentil motifs and doorkeeper statues, with reports indicating key documentation related to their work has vanished. Earlier leads pointed to a Hyderabad-based accomplice, and the SIT plans to detail these developments in a confidential report to the high court next week.

The scandal has ignited political backlash, with Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar calling for the immediate ouster of State Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan. Addressing a BJP Mahila Yuva Morcha demonstration in Thiruvananthapuram against the theft, Chandrasekhar vowed to urge the central government to launch a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

This unfolding case, centered on the disappearance of gold from Sabarimala’s iconic doors – which mysteriously surfaced at an actor’s residence after a 39-day odyssey across South India – underscores vulnerabilities in temple asset management. Potti’s prior access to door panels three months before the plating controversy adds layers to the probe, as authorities race to recover the stolen treasures and hold the guilty accountable.