Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged large-scale irregularities in the Sabarimala sanctum gold theft case, claiming that 30.5 kg of gold was siphoned off from the revered hill shrine and replaced with copper plated with gold. He described the incident as a "grave betrayal of faith" and stated that he had provided key information to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), obtained from a businessman residing abroad.
"Today I met the SIT and gave the information I gathered from a businessman staying abroad. Sabarimala is a religious site considered secular and visited by over five crore devotees every year. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous elements took away 30.5 kg of gold from there and replaced copper with gold plating. I wanted to know where the gold is," Chennithala told reporters.
He further alleged that antiques worth Rs 500-1,000 crores were smuggled out and confirmed that these details had been officially shared with the investigators.
Chennithala's statements come as the investigation intensifies into the ongoing controversy over the gold plating of the Sabarimala temple's sanctum sanctorum.
Previously, on November 26, the SIT took A. Padmakumar—a former Sabarimala Executive Committee president and CPI(M) Pathanamthitta district committee member—into custody after obtaining court approval. Former Thiruvabharanam temple commissioner K.S. Baiju was arrested on November 7, and Unnikrishnan Potti, identified as the prime accused, was taken into custody on October 17.
In a separate comment, Chennithala accused the ruling CPI(M) of orchestrating violence in northern Kerala. "Our people were brutally attacked, their cars smashed and houses burnt, while the police remained mute spectators. The people of Kerala have given a befitting reply to this anti-people government. The police must act against this brutality," he said.
Also Read: Sabarimala scam: CPI(M) signals action against ex-TDB chief
On the national political scene, Chennithala defended the AICC rally, citing concerns over electoral irregularities. "Vote chori is one of the major issues in the country. The Election Commission, along with the BJP, has made elections a mockery. That is why we were forced to hold such a rally, and it will be an eye-opener for the people of India," he said.
The Sabarimala gold controversy centers on allegations of irregularities in the gold plating work at the temple. It stems from a 1998 donation of 30.3 kilograms of gold and 1,900 kilograms of copper by industrialist Vijay Mallya, meant for cladding the sanctum sanctorum and the wooden carvings of the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala.
Also Read: Sabarimala scam: Kerala court rejects bail plea of ex-TDB prez
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