Samarimala Temple: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold loss case on Friday arrested Kandararu Rajeevaru, the chief priest of the Lord Ayyappa temple, according to official sources.
Rajeevaru was taken in for questioning at an undisclosed location earlier in the day and was later shifted to the SIT office in the afternoon, where his arrest was formally recorded. Officials said the action followed fresh leads that emerged during the course of the investigation.
The arrest was made on the basis of statements given by the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, and former Travancore Devaswom Board president Padmakumar. Investigators found that Rajeevaru had maintained close links with Potty and had earlier recommended the replating of the Dwarapalaka plates and the doorframe plates of the Sreekovil, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
According to officials, when the Travancore Devaswom Board later sought formal approval for the replating work, Rajeevaru granted the necessary permission, which has now come under the scanner of the SIT.
Sources said the chief priest had been questioned earlier as part of the probe, and further examination of evidence led to his arrest. With this development, Rajeevaru becomes the 11th person to be taken into custody in connection with the case.
The SIT was constituted following directions from the Kerala High Court to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged loss of gold linked to temple works at Sabarimala.
