The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Thursday began questioning Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold-plating scandal, even as his family raised allegations of unauthorised custody.
Official sources said Mr. Potti, a Bengaluru-based businessman, was taken into custody from his residence at Pulimath on Thursday morning and later shifted to an undisclosed location for questioning. He is likely to be arrested and produced before a magistrate by Friday.
During the preliminary probe, the SIT obtained documents from the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) related to the handing over of gold-clad copper plates of the Dwarapalaka idols and the door frames for gold-plating in 2019. Investigators have also collected information from Smart Creations, Chennai, the firm that carried out the gold-plating work, regarding the gold sponsored by Mr. Potti.
Investigators have also collected details about Kalpesh, to whom Mr. Potti allegedly handed over the gold, which is said to have been stolen in the guise of gold-plating works.
Based on these findings, the SIT has now begun recording statements of witnesses and accused persons as part of the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Potti’s family has alleged that he was being held illegally. “We don’t know the grounds for his detention and are yet to receive a copy of an arrest memo or his current whereabouts. The only thing we know is that he was picked up in the morning,” said Ajith Sasthamangalam, Mr. Potti’s lawyer.
Published – October 16, 2025 09:05 pm IST
