The special investigation team (SIT) probing the theft of gold-plated copper panels from the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala has begun questioning former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A. Padmakumar.
According to sources, Mr. Padmakumar appeared before the SIT for questioning on Thursday (November 20, 2025) morning. The interrogation, led by SIT head S. Sasidharan, is under way at an undisclosed location in Thiruvananthapuram. Although there was no official confirmation on the proceedings, it is suspected that Mr. Padmakumar’s arrest may be recorded after the questioning.
Though there were reports that he would be summoned to Thiruvananthapuram for questioning, no formal prior notice was reportedly issued to him.
According to sources, the SIT had asked Mr. Padmakumar to reach the State capital for questioning only by Wednesday evening, and he left his house in Aranmula on Thursday morning as per the instruction.
Meanwhile, former TDB commissioner N. Vasu, who was arrested earlier in the gold theft case, has been remanded in SIT custody till 4 p.m. on Thursday. It is reported that the SIT may question Mr. Vasu and Mr. Padmakumar together.
The SIT has received indications that there was a financial transaction between Unnikrishnan Potti, another accused in the alleged misappropriation of gold at Sabarimala, and Mr. Padmakumar. The arrest of Mr. Padmakumar had been delayed since the SIT was in the process of gathering more evidence against the accused.
The statements of those arrested earlier in the case, including former TDB administrative officer Murari Babu and Mr. Vasu, were also against Mr. Padmakumar. It is suspected that manipulation of the official records of Sabarimala was executed with the connivance of Mr. Padmakumar. The SIT is also investigating his financial transactions in detail.
Published – November 20, 2025 02:12 pm IST
