Thiruvananthapuram :
In a decisive development in the Sabarimala gold theft case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Tuesday arrested Special Tahsildar Shankardas, who is listed as an accused in the case.
Shankardas, who has been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, was arrested by the SIT at the hospital itself. SP Sashidharan reached the hospital and formally recorded the arrest. As Shankardas had been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for the past several days, the SIT informed the Kollam court of the arrest.
Following this, the magistrate personally visited the hospital and completed the legal procedures. The SIT will submit the remand report before the Kollam court on Wednesday. Though Shankardas has been shifted from the ICU to a regular room, he will continue to remain under hospital care.
Investigators describe the arrest as a crucial and decisive step in the ongoing probe into the alleged theft and misappropriation of gold assets linked to the Sabarimala temple.
Probe Expanded to Flagstaff (Kodimaram) Replacement
Meanwhile, the SIT has expanded the scope of the investigation to include the replacement of the temple flagstaff (Kodimaram) at Sabarimala.
The Kodimaram was replaced in 2017, during the tenure of Prayar Gopalakrishnan as the President of the Travancore Devaswom Board. Acting on Kerala High Court directions, both the SIT and Devaswom Vigilance have now launched a detailed investigation into the construction and replacement process of the flagstaff.
During the course of the probe, the SIT recorded statements from several individuals associated with Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, which brought to light fresh information regarding the Kodimaram replacement. Based on these findings, the 2017 replacement has now been formally brought under the investigation ambit.
Mystery Surrounding Ancient Temple Artifacts
According to records, the old Kodimaram was replaced after it deteriorated over time. The original structure contained ancient artifacts, including the Vaji Vahanam and the Ashtadik Palakas, believed to be gifts dating back to the royal era.
At the time of replacement, the Vaji Vahanam was reportedly handed over to the Tantri. However, during the Devaswom Vigilance inquiry, officials found no clarity regarding the whereabouts of the Ashtadik Palakas.
The Vaji Vahanam, a centuries-old sculpture, weighs approximately 11 kilograms and is made of panchaloha (five-metal alloy) with gold plating. In 2017, the highly valuable artifact was reportedly taken from Sabarimala to the Tantri’s residence.
Following the arrest of the Tantri in the Kattillappadi (door-panel) case, the SIT conducted a raid at his residence and recovered the Vaji Vahanam, which has since been taken into custody as part of the evidence.
Significance of the Arrest
Officials believe Shankardas’s arrest could unravel deeper links in the alleged conspiracy involving temple assets, administrative lapses, and possible misappropriation of valuable gold-covered artifacts. The investigation continues under High Court monitoring, with further arrests and revelations expected.
