Sabarimala Gold Theft: SIT Records Detailed Statement of Current Chief Priest
SIT grills thantri over mysterious 2019 gold removal order.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to unravel the sensational theft of gold ornaments worth several crores from Sabarimala temple has secretly recorded the detailed statement of the present chief priest (thantri) Mahesh Mohanararu. The marathon questioning, conducted a few weeks ago at an undisclosed location, centred on the highly irregular permission granted in 2019 to prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti to remove gold-clad plates from the dwarapalaka idols and the ornate door frames of the sreekovil.
Investigators pressed Mahesh Mohanararu—who was actively serving at the hill shrine during the crucial period—on the mandatory requirement of deva anujna (divine sanction) before any consecrated ornament can be taken beyond temple boundaries. Sources revealed the SIT demanded precise explanations on how Potti, masquerading as a wealthy sponsor, secured both ritual and administrative approval to transport the priceless gold items outside Sabarimala ostensibly for polishing and repair, after which they vanished permanently.
The probe also zeroed in on documented visits by the thantri to Ballari-based gold merchant Govardhan, a known business associate of Potti who allegedly received the stolen ornaments. Call records, entry registers, and witness accounts of Potti’s unusually frequent access to the heavily restricted sreekovil area were placed before Mahesh Mohanararu for clarification during the lengthy session.
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This interrogation marks the third thantri to be examined by the SIT, following earlier questioning of senior priests Kandararu Mohanararu and Kandararu Rajeevararu. With six arrests already effected—including two former Travancore Devaswom Board presidents—the agency is methodically building a case of criminal conspiracy that reaches the highest echelons of temple administration and ritual authority.
As forensic audit of temple records continues, the thantri’s testimony is emerging as a potential cornerstone that could either expose a meticulously planned inside job or clear lingering doubts about procedural lapses that allowed sacred gold offerings to Lord Ayyappa to disappear without trace.
Also Read: Sabarimala Gold Theft Probe: SIT Questions Sabarimala Chief Thantris in Multi-Crore Gold Heist
