The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out extensive multi-state raids as part of its money laundering investigation into the alleged theft and misappropriation of gold linked to the Sabarimala temple. The searches were conducted at around 21 locations spread across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
In Kerala, ED teams searched the residence of key accused Unnikrishnan Potti at Pulimath near Kilimanoor, along with the homes of several former officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board. Raids were also carried out at the Travancore Devaswom Board office in Thiruvananthapuram. Additional searches took place at residences of other suspects and relatives believed to be connected to the alleged gold diversion network.
Simultaneous searches were conducted in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka at premises linked to jewellers, gold traders and business entities suspected to have played a role in processing and disposing of the stolen gold. Officials said the coordinated action was aimed at tracing the money trail and identifying individuals who may have benefited financially from the alleged crime.
The ED registered its case earlier this month after obtaining permission from a special court to investigate the financial aspects of the Sabarimala gold case. According to investigators, temple ornaments and gold-clad items were allegedly removed over several years on the pretext of repairs and re-plating. It is suspected that some of these items were falsely recorded as being made of copper, while the extracted gold was diverted and sold illegally.
The Sabarimala gold case first came to light in 2019 after discrepancies were noticed in the weight of gold-plated ornaments returned to the temple following re-plating. This led to a detailed probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted following directions from the Kerala High Court. The SIT has since arrested several accused, including temple staff, intermediaries and jewellers.
The ED’s probe focuses on alleged proceeds of crime, illegal financial transactions and possible benami investments arising from the gold theft. During the raids, officials examined financial records, seized documents and digital devices, and questioned individuals linked to the case.
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