Vasu is the third accused in the case. He was taken into custody after being questioned by the SIT for two consecutive days and will be produced before the Ranni court.
Photo: IANS
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala temple gold heist case arrested N. Vasu, former Devaswom Commissioner and President of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), on Tuesday.
Vasu is the third accused in the case. He was taken into custody after being questioned by the SIT for two consecutive days and will be produced before the Ranni court. Other officials arrested earlier reportedly stated that they acted under Vasu’s instructions.
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According to the SIT, it was N. Vasu, then Devaswom Commissioner, who directed officials to record that the gold-plated layers on the Dwarapalaka sculptures and the sanctum sanctorum (Sreekovil) door frames at the Sabarimala shrine were made of copper.
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Vasu became the President of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in November 2019, eight and a half months after retiring as Devaswom Commissioner. He had served as the Devaswom Commissioner from February 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019.
His arrest marks a major development in the high-profile case involving the alleged theft of gold used for plating the temple’s sanctum sanctorum doors and Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala temple in 2019.
Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan had earlier alleged that Vasu was close to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPM. He claimed that with Vasu’s arrest, ministers and CPM leaders linked to the Sabarimala gold loot would also come under scrutiny.
So far, the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty, former Sabarimala Administrative Officer Murari Babu, former Executive Officer Sudheesh Kumar, and former TDB Thiruvabharanam Commissioner K.S. Biju have been arrested in connection with the case.
The case pertains to the alleged theft of gold from the gold-plated door frames and Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala temple’s sanctum sanctorum.
The Kerala High Court, which is monitoring the SIT investigation, recently granted permission for a scientific examination to determine the extent of gold loss.
Although the theft reportedly began in 2019, the High Court has directed that the actions of the Travancore Devaswom Board from 2018 to 2025 also be brought under the ambit of the investigation.
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