Sabarimala gold loss case: ED raids in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
They added that around 21 locations were raided in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Premises in Bengaluru linked to prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti and former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) chairman A Padmakumar are understood to have been protected by the federal investigation agency as part of the action.
The ED had recently filed a PMLA case taking cognizance of the Kerala police’s FIR.
The politically sensitive case is currently being investigated by a state Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of the Kerala High Court.
The investigation is into a series of irregularities, including official misconduct, administrative lapses and a criminal conspiracy to misappropriate gold from various artefacts in the Lord Ayyappa temple.
The investigation by the SIT pertains to the loss of gold in the gold-plated copper plates of the idols of ‘Dwarapalaka’ (guardian deity) and the door frames of the ‘Sreekovil’ (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple.
