Kochi :<\/strong> With the ED expected to file its Preliminary Information Report (PIR) in the coming days, the case\u2014until now handled by a police Special Investigation Team (SIT)\u2014is set to move into a far more serious and expansive legal territory. The ED\u2019s entry has reportedly triggered anxiety among several influential individuals, amid fears that evidence allegedly suppressed or ignored by the SIT may now be unearthed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The controversy centres on the theft and illegal diversion of gold and valuables from the Sabarimala temple, one of the most revered pilgrimage centres in India. From the outset, allegations suggested that the crime could not have been executed by a single employee and that a larger, well-organised network was involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The police SIT identified Unnikrishnan Potti, a Devaswom Board employee, as the prime accused. However, critics\u2014including political leaders and civil society voices\u2014have consistently argued that limiting the case to one individual grossly underestimates the scale of the crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to preliminary assessments by the ED:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ED is expected to begin its investigation by taking Unnikrishnan Potti into custody for detailed interrogation, but officials indicate that the probe will not end with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ED plans to scrutinise the financial records of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their businesses and transactions are suspected to be connected to the laundering of proceeds from the stolen gold. Bank accounts, property documents, and business ledgers are expected to come under close examination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The agency is also taking seriously the grave allegations raised by former Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who has claimed the involvement of a prominent expatriate businessman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sources indicate that the ED\u2019s intervention has come with the approval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underlining the seriousness with which the Centre views the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under the leadership of the Additional Director of the ED, Kochi, a dedicated investigation team will be constituted shortly. Former Travancore Devaswom Board officials, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n are expected to be questioned. Investigators believe this could expose internal collusion and institutional failures within the Board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are strong indications that the ED investigation may extend to former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran and former Board presidents A. Padmakumar and N. Vasu, whose names have surfaced repeatedly in connection with administrative decisions taken during the relevant period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the ED establishes that the crime was planned, protected, or facilitated at higher political or bureaucratic levels, it could have serious political consequences for the Pinarayi Vijayan government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once a PMLA case is formally registered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Investigators suspect that a powerful gold-smuggling and money-laundering network exploited faith and religious trust for profit. With the ED now in charge, that network is expected to face its toughest legal test yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Observers believe the era of shielding \u201cuntouchables\u201d in the Sabarimala gold theft case may finally be coming to an end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Kochi :The long-running Sabarimala gold theft case has entered a decisive new phase with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) formally stepping in to investigate the matter. The Kochi zonal unit of the ED has received clearance from the Central Government to register a case and begin a full-fledged probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7547,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kerala"],"yoast_head":"\n
The long-running Sabarimala gold theft case has entered a decisive new phase with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) formally stepping in to investigate the matter. The Kochi zonal unit of the ED has received clearance from the Central Government to register a case and begin a full-fledged probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBackground of the Case<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nED\u2019s Initial Findings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nKey Individuals and Financial Trail<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nPolitical and High-Level Allegations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nFocus on Devaswom Board Officials<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nPossible Expansion of the Probe<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat Lies Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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