SIT arrests Sabarimala chief priest in temple gold theft case

The Special Investigation Team probing the Sabarimala gold loss case on Friday arrested chief priest Kandararu Rajeevaru, citing his close links with prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty and his role in recommending the controversial replating of the Dwarapalaka and Sreekovil gold plates at the Lord Ayyappa temple. The SIT probe is monitored by the Kerala High Court.

Thanthri Rajeevaru, who held a position of supreme religious and ritualistic authority at the Lord Ayyappa shrine, was questioned at an undisclosed location in the morning and later shifted to the SIT office in the afternoon, where his arrest was formally recorded, said officials.

According to officials, the arrest was made based on statements given by the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty and former Travancore Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar. The SIT found that Rajeevaru had close associations with Potty and had recommended the replating of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) plates and the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) doorframe plates at the temple.

Later, when the Travancore Devaswom Board sought his permission for the replating, Rajeevaru had granted his approval, officials said. SIT officials said Rajeevaru had been questioned earlier as part of the investigation.

He is the 11th person to be arrested in the case after the Kerala High Court constituted the SIT to probe the gold loss incident. He will be produced before the Vigilance court as part of the remand procedure, officials said.

The current Thanthri is Kandaru Mahesh Mohanararu, a relative of Rajeevaru, who is heading the rituals at the Sabarimala temple. Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan said the investigation was being conducted under the supervision of the Kerala High Court.

“The probe is progressing in the right direction and the court has expressed its satisfaction,” he said, adding that he would comment further after the investigation is completed.

State Police Chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar said the investigation was being monitored by the Kerala High Court and that the probe would proceed based on whatever evidence emerged. “Whatever evidence comes to light, the investigation will go ahead,” he said.

The DGP said there were no restrictions on the Special Investigation Team (SIT). “The team is functioning under the supervision of the Kerala High Court,” he added. The current TDB president, K Jayakumar Nair, said Rajeevaru is not the current Chief Priest of Sabarimala during the current pilgrimage season.

Asked about the arrest of Rajeevaru, Chandrasekhar said he was not the right person to comment and did not want to create controversy. “Anything lost from Sabarimala hurts the sentiments of devotees.

That is why the number of devotees has increased this time,” he said. Kandararu Rajeevaru became chief priest after his elder brother Kandararu Mohanaru, was arrested in cases related to extortion and honey trapping in 2005.