SIT questions Congress leader Adoor Prakash in Sabarimala gold heist case

T'puram: The special investigation team (SIT) questioned UDF convener Adoor Prakash for nearly two hours at its office in the state capital in connection with the Sabarimala gold heist case.

The questioning was based on information suggesting that Prakash had links with prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti, met him and allegedly accepted gifts from him. The LDF has been raising allegations against the Attingal MP after a photograph surfaced of him, along with Potti, meeting Congress leader Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi.


Prakash said that he answered all the questions, including about Potti as well. "Whether my answers were satisfactory or not is for the investigating officers to decide," he said. Prakash also stated that the investigation team did not ask him about financial matters.

Prakash said he had met Potti on multiple occasions and had attended programmes organised by him, but asserted that he had no connection with the Sabarimala gold heist case. He maintained that Potti was a resident of his constituency and that he knew him as an Ayyappa devotee. However, Prakash became visibly angry when journalists asked whether he would be summoned again.

Former devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran was also questioned in connection with the case.

Reacting to the development, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said the questioning was politically motivated and warned against attempts to drag UDF into the case. He said the move was part of the govt's effort to shift blame onto others and added that Prakash appeared for questioning immediately after being summoned.

"The people of Kerala know who stole the gold from Sabarimala and who are protecting them. When these facts come out, attempts are being made to escape the shame. This will not help the chief minister escape responsibility," Venugopal said.

Venugopal also ridiculed the CM's recent claim that Potti gained access to the shrine during his tenure as devaswom minister in 2004.

"I can only pity him. In the current circumstances, one can say that he has lost all senses, as he claims that Potti gained access to Sabarimala because I was the devaswom minister 22 years ago," said Venugopal.

The SIT, constituted following the directions of the Kerala high court, is probing two cases related to gold heist from the dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and doorframes of the sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) at the hill shrine, and has so far arrested 12 persons, including two former Travancore Devaswom Board presidents associated with the CPM and chief priest Kandararu Rajeevaru. (With inputs from agencies)