Sabrimala gold theft case: SIT arrests chief priest Kandararu Rajeevaru

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The chief priest of Sabarimala’s Lord Ayyappa temple, Kandararu Rajeevaru, was arrested on Friday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the temple gold loss case, officials told news agency PTI. Rajeevaru was initially questioned at an undisclosed location in the morning before being shifted to the SIT office in the afternoon, where his arrest was formally recorded, sources told PTI. Officials said the action followed statements from the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, and former Travancore Devaswom Board president Padmakumar, linking Rajeevaru to the alleged wrongdoing. The SIT discovered that Rajeevaru maintained close ties with Potty and had recommended the replating of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) plates and the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) doorframe plates at the temple. When the Travancore Devaswom Board later sought his permission for the replating, he had granted it, officials said. SIT sources told PTI that Rajeevaru had been questioned previously as part of the ongoing investigation. He is the 11th individual to be taken into custody in connection with the case since the Kerala High Court set up the SIT to investigate the gold loss incident.