Daijiworld Media Network – Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 31: Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the sensational Sabarimala gold heist case, was remanded to judicial custody on Thursday after the end of his police custody period. He was produced before the Ranni First Class Magistrate Court, where he pleaded that he suffers from epilepsy and would be unable to cope with jail life. However, prosecutors argued that the prison authorities are equipped to provide him with adequate medical care. The court then ordered his transfer to the Thiruvananthapuram Special Sub Jail.

According to investigators, Potti will be formally arrested on Friday in connection with a second case related to the theft of gold lintels from the temple door. He will be produced before the Ranni court again on Monday, when the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is expected to seek further custody for interrogation.

Another accused, Murari Babu, was also produced before the court and has been remanded to judicial custody. The court had earlier, on Tuesday, granted the SIT four days’ custody of Babu for questioning. Both Potti and Babu were interrogated together earlier this week, as investigators sought to uncover possible financial transactions and conspiracy links between the two.

The SIT also took both accused to Sabarimala for evidence collection. The gold recovered from Bellary has been submitted before the court as part of the investigation.

Meanwhile, the high-profile gold heist has taken on a political dimension, with the BJP alleging that Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan has links to the case. The opposition has demanded a transparent probe into the matter as public outrage continues to mount over the theft at one of Kerala’s most revered temples.