ED Quizzes Former TDB President N Vasu in Sabarimala Gold Misappropriation Case

Officials of the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday questioned former Travancore Devaswom Board president N. Vasu in connection with the alleged Sabarimala gold misappropriation case. The interrogation began around 10:30 a.m. at the agency’s Kochi office and continued until evening. Vasu is among the primary accused in the case, which relates to the alleged diversion of gold from the doorframes of the Sabarimala temple.

The case centres on claims that gold slabs removed from the temple’s doorframes were misrepresented during official communication. According to investigators, the slabs were initially described as copper in a letter forwarded by Vasu to the Devaswom Board while seeking approval for their handling. The alleged discrepancy has become a key focus of the Enforcement Directorate’s probe into suspected financial irregularities.

Records indicate that the Board approved the request on February 26, 2019. Subsequently, on March 19 of the same year, a decision was taken to hand over the slabs to Unnikrishnan Potti. Investigators are examining the sequence of administrative decisions and the valuation and classification of the material involved to determine whether there was any deliberate misrepresentation or financial wrongdoing.

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Vasu was granted bail last month by the Kollam Vigilance Court in connection with the case. The Enforcement Directorate’s questioning is part of a broader money-laundering investigation that runs parallel to the vigilance inquiry. Officials are seeking to ascertain whether any proceeds of alleged misappropriation were diverted or laundered through financial channels.

As part of the ongoing probe, the agency has already questioned several individuals linked to the temple administration and the board. These include former Sabarimala administrative officers S. Sreekumar and Murari Babu, former TDB secretary S. Jayasree, actor Jayaram, and Kalpesh. Sources familiar with the investigation said statements have been recorded to establish the chain of custody and decision-making process surrounding the removed slabs.

Officials indicated that further questioning is likely in the coming days, including that of Unnikrishnan Potti. The Enforcement Directorate has not released an official statement detailing the findings so far. The case has drawn significant public attention in Kerala given the religious importance of Sabarimala and the administrative responsibilities of the Travancore Devaswom Board in managing temple affairs.

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