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Sabarimala Gold Case: Ex-TDB Chief N. Vasu Arrested, Sent to 14-Day Judicial Custody

The High Court–supervised investigation has moved to senior administrators following allegations of record tampering during the 2019 restoration.

Overview

  • Investigators allege N. Vasu, then Devaswom Commissioner, told officials in 2019 to record gold-plated door frames and panels as copper before handing them to contractor Unnikrishnan Potti.
  • Vasu was produced in a Pathanamthitta court and remanded for 14 days, with police lodging him at the Kottarakkara Sub Jail, according to PTI reports.
  • The SIT has earlier arrested prime accused Potti and three Travancore Devaswom Board officials, with two FIRs covering the Dwarapalaka idols and sanctum door frames.
  • Officials say about 4.5 kg of gold from items donated in 1998 is unaccounted for, while roughly 576 grams have been seized during the ongoing probe.
  • The Kerala government has named retired IAS officer K. Jayakumar as TDB president from November 14 as the Mandalam–Makaravilakku pilgrimage opens on November 17.