Sabarimala ‘missing gold’ case gathers steam: Raids at Chennai firm, Bengaluru flat, Bellary jewellery store

Investigators also took Potty to the site as part of their probe.

Searches were also held at a gold showroom in Bellary and at Potty’s apartment in Bengaluru. In Bellary, the search was held at Roddam Jewellers. After the SIT raid, the owner of the store, Govardan, told TV channels that he is a staunch devotee of Lord Ayyappa and had befriended Potty, who had once worked as an assistant to temple priests. “In 2019, Potty told me about replacing the gold-plated doors. As a devotee, I agreed to donate the gold-plated door. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I have handed over all related documents to the police,” he said.

The SIT has already arrested Murari Babu, a former administrative officer at Sabarimala. He had served at Sabarimala in 2019 when the already gold-plated idols were handed over to Potty and were recorded as just copper plates. Murari, under suspension after the scandal emerged, has been remanded in judicial custody.

BJP ups ante

Meanwhile, the BJP has started a day-and-night agitation in front of the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram over the alleged misappropriation in Sabarimala, which is managed by the state-run body, Travancore Devaswom Board.

The protest, which started Friday evening, saw senior party leaders, led by state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, taking part.

Addressing the agitation, Chandrasekhar sought the resignation of Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan. “This government has looted 4.5 kg of gold from Sabarimala. Vasavan should quit and the Travancore Devaswom Board should be disbanded. This is the demand of ordinary people, not of the BJP alone. The SIT has evidence against Vasavan. Don’t try to cover it up. We have demanded a probe by a central agency,” he said.