Congress MP Adoor Prakash Admits 2019 Meetings with Sabarimala Gold Case Accused Potty

UDF Convenor and Congress MP Adoor Prakash on Friday acknowledged that he had met Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, on multiple occasions but firmly rejected any suggestion that he was linked to the alleged crime. He was responding to reporters in New Delhi after a photograph showing him with Potty surfaced and triggered political controversy.

Prakash said the issue was being deliberately raised at a time when the political climate in Kerala was turning favourable for the UDF. Dismissing attempts to portray him negatively, he said the people of Kerala were capable of judging facts for themselves and would not be misled by what he described as motivated allegations.

Explaining the circumstances of his interactions with Potty, Prakash said he first met him in 2019 after being elected as the MP from the Attingal Lok Sabha constituency. He said Potty had invited him to an annadhanam at the Sabarimala temple, which he attended. He also confirmed visiting Potty’s residence later to offer condolences following the death of Potty’s father.

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The Congress leader further stated that he had once visited the house of Potty’s sister in Venjaramoodu along with KPCC leader Remani Nair, adding that he could not recall the exact purpose of the visit as the individuals concerned were from his constituency. He said all his meetings with Potty took place in 2019 and that he was unaware of Potty’s background at the time.

Addressing claims of having received gifts or benefits, Prakash said a packet given to him by Potty during a visit to Bengaluru contained dates, which he handed over to someone else. He categorically denied receiving any share of the gold allegedly stolen from Sabarimala and said the cover seen in the photograph was merely an invitation to a family function.

Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan came out in Prakash’s defence, stating that knowing or meeting a person from one’s constituency did not establish any link to the Sabarimala gold loss case. He pointed out that the alleged gold loss occurred in 2019 when the LDF was in power and said the allegations against Prakash were being unnecessarily politicised.

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