Thiruvananthapurwm, 20 Nov (H.S.): In a major development in the Sabarimala gold scam, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch on Thursday arrested A Padmakumar, former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). The CPM leader’s arrest was recorded after nearly four hours of interrogation at the Crime Branch headquarters, marking a significant escalation in the probe into the alleged disappearance of gold from the sanctum sanctorum’s door frames.

Padmakumar is the fifth person to be arrested in the high-profile case. The SIT suspects his involvement in the misappropriation of gold slabs used for plating the Sreekovil door frames—material that was allegedly documented as copper during restoration works.

According to investigators, Padmakumar was in office as TDB president in 2019, the same period when key decisions related to the restoration were made. He was summoned to a confidential location in Thiruvananthapuram early Thursday, following a sudden directive issued late Wednesday evening. No prior written notice was served. Padmakumar travelled from his residence in Aranmula and appeared before the team led by SP Shashidharan.

This is the second time the SIT has questioned the former TDB chief. He had earlier avoided interrogation citing health issues. Fresh summons were issued as the probe gained momentum after the arrest of N Vasu on Tuesday.

Vasu, who served as Devaswom Commissioner and later as TDB president in 2019, was arrested for allegedly directing officials to falsely record the gold plating as copper. He has been named the third accused in the case, following Unnikrishnan Potti (first accused) and Sudheesh Kumar (fourth accused). After his arrest was recorded, Vasu was remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody by a Pathanamthitta court and lodged at the Kottarakkara Sub Jail.

Padmakumar’s role has come under scrutiny because he headed the TDB during the time Vasu held administrative authority. The SIT believes his testimony is crucial to identifying the chain of decisions, lapses, and alleged collusion that may have facilitated the disappearance of temple gold.

The Sabarimala gold scam—centred on the suspected loss of sacred gold slabs from one of India’s most revered pilgrimage sites—has sparked widespread public and political concern. With back-to-back arrests of former top officials, the investigation is expected to gather further pace in the coming days.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman