4 months ago
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The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) connected Wednesday froze 8 immovable properties of Unnikrishnan Potti, the premier accused successful the Sabarimala golden theft case, valued astatine astir ₹1.3 crore nether Section 17 (1A) of the the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Additionally, a 100-gram golden barroom was besides seized from the premises of Smart Creations, Chennai, the bureau said successful a statement.
A preliminary probe by the ED revealed that ineffable gold-clad artefacts of the Sabarimala temple, including Dwarapalaka idol components, peedams (pedestals) and sanctum sanctorum doorway framework panels, were deliberately misrepresented successful authoritative records arsenic specified “copper plates” and unauthorisedly removed from the temple premises during 2019–2025.
The Kochi zonal bureau of the bureau had held hunt operations connected January 20 (Tuesday) connected 21 premises crossed Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka nether the provisions of the PMLA, 2002, successful transportation with the misappropriation of golden and different temple assets relating to the Sabarimala temple.
The ED had initiated probe connected the ground of 2 FIRs registered by the High Courtl-appointed Special Investigation Team which revealed a well-planned transgression conspiracy involving elder officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), erstwhile temple administrators, backstage sponsors and jewellers.
The ED stated that the ineffable gold-clad artefacts of the temple were subsequently transported to backstage facilities successful Chennai and Karnataka, including Smart Creations and Roddam Jewellers, wherever golden was extracted done chemic processes nether the guise of repair and replating work.
The extracted golden and related assets represent proceeds of crime, which were retained, transferred and concealed by the accused. The probe has besides brought to airy indications of different fiscal irregularities and scams astatine the Sabarimala temple, including misappropriation related to temple offerings and rituals, which are besides being examined nether the PMLA framework.
The ED stated that a ample measurement of incriminating documents and integer grounds were recovered from assorted locations. These see mahazars and authoritative records prepared by TDB officials, which deliberately misrepresented gold-clad ineffable artefacts arsenic “copper plates,” enabling their unauthorised removal and golden extraction.
Records comprising authoritative recommendations, orders and correspondence issued betwixt 2019 and 2024, invoices and outgo documents of backstage jewellers, and warranty certificates relating to chemic extraction and replating were besides seized.
Further, documents revealed systemic irregularities successful temple offerings and rituals, including diversion of proceeds, quality-related losses and unexplained accumulation of assets and suspicious fiscal transactions by definite officials.
