The ongoing Sabarimala gold theft case took a new turn on Tuesday as the Ranni Judicial First Class Magistrate Court granted police four days’ custody of Murari Babu, a Travancore Devaswom Board employee. The special investigation team (SIT) intends to conduct a detailed interrogation to uncover potential links and roles in the high-profile gold heist that shocked Kerala’s pilgrimage community.

Officials said the SIT plans to question Babu alongside former priest-turned-businessman Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the case. The investigators aim to determine whether Babu was involved in any financial transactions or other acts connected to the alleged conspiracy. The court had been informed that Babu played a significant role in the broader scheme, making his custody critical for the ongoing probe.

Following the court’s order, police escorted Murari Babu to the Crime Branch office in Thiruvananthapuram. Investigators indicated that evidence collection may involve joint questioning sessions with Potti in the coming days. The custody of Potti, meanwhile, is set to continue until October 30, ensuring continuity in the investigation and minimizing chances of conflicting statements.

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In a related development, the SIT has requested additional documents related to the gold-plating work at Sabarimala carried out by businessman Vijay Mallya in 1999. Officials emphasized that these renovation records are crucial to understanding the full scope of the alleged theft and tracing potential links between the accused. Investigators have warned that no further delays will be tolerated in producing the necessary documents.

As the probe intensifies, police and SIT officials remain tight-lipped about further developments. With both Babu and Potti in custody, investigators are hopeful of unearthing key details that could lead to more arrests or recovery of the missing gold. The next few days are expected to be pivotal in cracking this high-profile case that has captured national attention.

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