Sabarimala gold theft case: SIT questioning tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru; arrest likely

The Kerala High Court-appointed peculiar probe squad (SIT) was questioning Sabarimala tantri (chief priest) Kantararu Rajivaru arsenic portion of its ongoing probe into the misappropriation of gold-plated spiritual artefacts from Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, adjacent arsenic officials privy to the ineligible process did not regularisation retired the anticipation of arrest. 

Officials confirmed that the main clergyman has been astatine an SIT “safe house” successful Thiruvananthapuram since Friday. Subsequently, the investigating squad brought him to the Kerala Police Crime Branch office astatine Eenchakkal, Thiruvananthapuram.

Officials said the tantri had “a rightful entitlement” to the affairs of Sabarimala temple, including the granting oregon denial of support to behaviour attraction and determination artefacts. They said the SIT has sought a ineligible sentiment connected whether the priestly orthodoxy falls wrong the scope of the Prevention of Corruption Act, oregon whether offences specified arsenic conspiracy and volition to perpetrate a transgression would apply.

The SIT was questioning Mr. Kandararu for the 2nd clip since past December. Sources said the SIT appeared keen to analyse Mr. Kandararu’s “decades-old relationship” with the main accused successful the case, Unnikrishnan Potti. 

In the aboriginal 2000s, Mr. Potti worked arsenic an adjutant to a lower-ranking clergyman astatine the Sabarimala temple. Subsequently, Mr. Potti gained power with successive Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) administrations and with the temple’s accepted priestly orthodoxy, presently headed by Mr. Kandararu.

Officials said Mr. Potti had, implicit the years, cultivated a web of affluent Ayyappa devotees who donated lavishly to the temple, sponsoring costly pujas and underwriting the expenses of ample feasts. They said successive TDB administrations had travel to trust connected Mr. Potti’s donor web for soliciting sponsorships arsenic offerings to the presiding deity. 

They noted that the SIT, successful respective tribunal filings, had underscored Mr. Potti’s power astatine the temple, including chaperoning VIPs, mostly movie stars and celebrities, to the temple for exclusive darshans and peculiar pujas.

Moreover, the SIT reportedly submitted photographs suggesting Mr. Potti’s proximity to the tantri’s family, including grounds that the accused contracted the household to execute pujas astatine the backstage premises of affluent devotees.

So far, the SIT has arrested 11 persons successful transportation with the case, including 2 erstwhile TDB presidents, some governmental appointees, and temple officials.