The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted extensive raids at 21 locations across Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu as part of its investigation into alleged money laundering linked to the Sabarimala gold smuggling case.
Searches are being carried out at the residences of all accused named in the case and at institutions connected to them across the three states.
Key Accused Targeted In Raids
The ED has launched raids at the homes of key accused, including Unnikrishnan Potti, former Devaswom Board President A. Padmakumar, N. Vasu, Murari Babu, and gold traders Govardhan and Pankaj Bhandari. Searches are also being conducted at Smart Creations in Chennai and at the residence of Bellary-based gold trader Govardhan.
In Kerala, ED teams reached the Devaswom Board headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. Raids are being conducted at Murari Babu’s residence in Kottayam, Unnikrishnan Potti’s house at Pulimath near Kilimanoor, N. Vasu’s residence at Pettah, and A. Padmakumar’s house in Aranmula.
The ED has also begun searches at the residence of Unnikrishnan Potti’s sister in Valiyakattakkal, Venganoor, and at the Thiruvananthapuram homes of K.P. Shankaradas, N. Vijayakumar, and S. Baiju.
PMLA Investigation Focuses On Money Trail
The searches are being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), with the ED investigating financial transactions related to the Sabarimala gold smuggling case to determine whether large-scale money laundering occurred.
While a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is investigating the gold smuggling case under Kerala High Court supervision, the ED has initiated a separate investigation focusing exclusively on the money trail.
The ED has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), naming all accused identified by the SIT, including Thantri Kandaru Rajeevar, though no search has been conducted at the Thantri’s residence so far.
The ED has named more than 15 accused in the case, with Unnikrishnan Potti listed as the prime accused. Former Devaswom Board President A. Padmakumar, N. Vasu, and others are also among those named.
Unnikrishnan Potti was taken into custody by the SIT in October last year in the Sabarimala gold theft case.
Asset Attachment Expected
According to officials, the ED may move to freeze and attach assets in the coming days based on the outcome of the raids. The agency’s intelligence wing had initiated a preliminary inquiry soon after the SIT probe began, following inputs suggesting large-scale money laundering linked to the gold smuggling.
Earlier, documents including FIRs and accused statements were handed over to the ED by the Kollam Vigilance Court, overriding objections raised by the state government. While the government argued that a parallel probe could affect the confidentiality of the court-monitored SIT investigation, the court upheld the ED’s authority to investigate under the PMLA.
Apart from the existing accused, former minister and CPI(M) leader Kadakampally Surendran may also fall within the ED’s investigation scope.
What Is The Sabarimala Gold Case?
The Sabarimala gold theft case involves allegations of the theft of approximately 4.54 kilograms of gold from sacred temple artifacts, including the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frames and Dwarapalaka idols. The theft allegedly occurred in 2019 under the pretext of refinishing and re-gold-plating temple structures.
The controversy traces back to a 1998 donation by industrialist Vijay Mallya, who had gifted 30.3 kilograms of gold and 1,900 kilograms of copper for gold plating and cladding work at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. Subsequent inspections and court-monitored inquiries revealed discrepancies between the donated gold and the quantity allegedly used in temple work.
