Sabarimala gold case: Jayaram questioned by SIT, likely to become witness

The Special Investigation Team SIT probing the Sabarimala gold heist case questioned actor Jayaram a move that investigators describe as crucial in establishing the alleged diversion of gold plates meant for the hill shrineThe questioning was carried out at the actorrsquos residence in Chennai following which the SIT indicated that Jayaram would be arraigned as a key witness in the caseJayaram questioned by SITIn his statement Jayaram confirmed that the gold plates which were meant to remain at the Sannidhanam of the Sabarimala temple had been brought to his Chennai homeThis investigators said corroborates the police finding that the plates were transported out of Kerala lending strength to the prosecutionrsquos claim that temple assets were moved without authorisationHowever the SIT has made it clear that it is not at present contemplating any legal action against the actorThe investigation has established that Jayaram had no financial dealings with the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti or with any of the other accused in the caseAccording to the SIT Jayaramrsquos interactions were limited to faithbased and religious contextsJayaram told investigators that he had known Unnikrishnan Potti for several decades through his association with Sabarimala which he has been visiting regularly for nearly five decades He stated that Potti had convinced him that conducting poojas on the newly crafted gold plates meant for the Sabarimala sanctum would bring spiritual merit and prosperityTrusting Potti on religious grounds Jayaram agreed to host the rituals he said The actor also confirmed that he participated in pujas conducted on the gold plates at Smart Creations in Chennai and later took part in a ceremonial procession at a temple in KottayamHe maintained that he had no knowledge about any financial fraud or misappropriation linked to the gold platesWith Jayaram agreeing to depose before the court the SIT considers his testimony significant particularly in establishing the movement and public display of the gold plates outside the temple premisesED conducts 3 raids in Sabrimala gold caseThe Enforcement Directorate on 20 January conducted searches in three states as part of its money laundering investigation into the Sabarimala alleged gold loss case of Kerala officials saidAbout 21 locations across Kerala Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are being raided under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLAThe premises linked to the main accused Unnikrishnan Potti in Bengaluru and former Travancore Devaswom Board TDB president A Padmakumar in Kerala apart from jewellers were covered by the federal probe agency as part of the actionThe probe is related to a series of irregularities including official misconduct administrative lapses and a criminal conspiracy to misappropriate the gold from the various artifacts of the Lord Ayyappa shrine The charges also include the loss of gold from the goldclad copper plates of the Dwarapalaka guardian deity idols and the door frames of the Sreekovil sanctum sanctorum of the templeED officials said preliminary investigation shows that goldclad sacred artifacts were deliberately misrepresented as copper plates in official records and unlawfully removed from the temple premises between 2019 and 2025