Former TDB president N Vasu arrested in Sabarimala gold case

Thiruvananthapuram | The SIT probing the missing gold from the Sabarimala temple arrested former TDB president N Vasu on Tuesday, sources said here.

Vasu, who had also served twice as Commissioner of the Travancore Devaswom Board before being appointed its president in November 2019, was arrested following his questioning, they said.

The arrest of Vasu, who is reportedly close to the top leadership of the state government, is one of the high-profile arrests in the case.

The Kerala High Court is monitoring the SIT probe.

Vasu is an accused in the case relating to the disappearance of gold from the door frames of the sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) of the hill shrine, sources said.

He was later produced in a court in Pathanamthitta, which remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days.

After the hearing, Vasu was taken to the Kottarakkara Sub Jail.

When the media asked if he had anything to say, he replied that he had nothing to comment on.

The SIT has already arrested the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, along with two senior officials and a retired officer in connection with the case.

Potty is an accused in two cases related to the disappearance of gold from the gold-clad plates of the dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the door frames of the sreekovil of the temple.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress alleged that with the arrest of Vasu, it had "become evident that the leadership of the ruling CPI(M) was also involved" in the Sabarimala gold theft.

In a statement, the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, said that not only Vasu but also the former and current Devaswom ministers should be named as accused in the case.

"The present and past Devaswom Boards could also face charges. That is why the Congress had earlier demanded the resignation of the Devaswom minister and the dismissal of the Travancore Devaswom Board, holding them responsible for the gold scam," he said.

The Congress leader added that it was only after the High Court expressed suspicion that the Sabarimala gold theft came to light and a special investigation team was appointed.

Everyone who colluded in the scam and shared the illegal proceeds must be brought before the law, the Opposition leader said.

BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that Vasu’s arrest was "merely part of the government's attempt to save face."

He told the press that the arrest was intended to protect several high-ranking individuals hiding behind the system.

The ruling CPI(M) said it had made its position on the Sabarimala gold theft issue clear from the very first day, and wanted everyone involved in the crime to be brought before the law.

Answering questions regarding the arrest of Vasu in the case, party state secretary M V Govindan said the CPI(M) was not concerned about who might be arrested, and that the party's and the government's stance on the issue remained unchanged.

"I said it in my first press conference after the case came to light. Whoever is involved in the case, the SIT will take action regardless of who it is. We can ensure that the government will not allow the loss of even an ounce of gold belonging to Lord Ayyappa," Govindan said.

He alleged that both BJP and Congress leaders have close connections with the accused in the case, and claimed that the BJP's demand for a CBI probe was an attempt to protect their own people linked to the incident.

"They want to shield their associates and prevent the SIT from reaching them. That is why they are demanding a CBI probe," Govindan added.