Kochi, 17 October(HS): Unnikrishnan Potti, the conman who robbed more than 40 kg of gold from Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala, has been remanded till 30th October 2025. The Judicial First-Class Magistrate, Ranni, who ordered the remand of the conman, instructed the Special Investigation Team probing the theft to direct the police not to disclose the details of the interrogation to the public or the media.

The charge against Potti is that he duped the Travancore Devaswom Board officials and political masters, promising manna from heaven instead of allowing him to plate/clad the dwarapalakas and door frame with gold. But Potti, with the connivance of TDB officials and CPI(M) leaders, managed to transport the dwarapalaka idols and door frame to the residences of his female friends. Besides Potti, Chennai-based Smart Creations, a firm engaged in gold plating too, has been arraigned as an accused in the case.

Sources in Kerala Police told HS that Potti would be taken to places like Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad as part of collecting evidence. The SIT, in its 11-hour-long grilling of Potti, has succeeded in getting a lot of details like how he shared the booty among TDB staff, politicians and ministers.

It is expected that the SIT is getting ready to question former TDB presidents A Padmakumar and Vasu, Meanwhile M V Govindan, the CPI(M) State secretary, who is in the race for the chief minister’s chair in the eventuality of Pinarayi Vijayan succumbs to the serious ailment troubling him, assured the Hindus that his party would not allow anyone to loot the Sabarimala Temple.

Neither comrade Ayyappan nor the temple would suffer any setbacks because of this swindling. We will ensure that Ayyappan loses not even a paisa offered by the devotees,” said Govindan.

Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti