Thiruvananthapuram , 30 Dec (H.S.):The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged gold smuggling linked to the Sabarimala temple has intensified its inquiry, with investigators questioning a key suspect from Tamil Nadu on Monday. Mani, a native of Dindigul, was summoned to the Crime Branch office at Enchakkal in Thiruvananthapuram, where he appeared along with his lawyers for questioning.
The interrogation is being led by Superintendent of Police Sasidharan, with SIT chief H. Venkatesh also present at the office. Mani’s close associate and aide, Balamurugan, was also questioned by the SIT. Balamurugan is reportedly the registered owner of the SIM card allegedly used by Mani in connection with the case. His wife accompanied him during the questioning.
The development follows a series of searches conducted by the SIT at Mani’s office and business establishments over the past few days. According to investigators, a key breakthrough came after a foreign businessman, described as a close associate of senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, gave a statement implicating Mani in the alleged smuggling of gold linked to Sabarimala temple assets.
The businessman reportedly told the SIT that gold ornaments from the temple were sold and that transactions had taken place between Mani and Unnikrishnan Potti, another individual suspected to be central to the case. The statement further claimed that the gold was smuggled abroad through illegal channels. Mani, who is said to be known by aliases such as “Diamond Mani” and “Dawood Mani,” is also alleged to have maintained close ties with Unnikrishnan Potti.
However, Mani has denied all the allegations. During questioning, he reportedly told investigators that he has no connection with gold smuggling or with Unnikrishnan Potti. He also claimed that his name is not “D Mani” but M.S. Mani, and dismissed the accusations as baseless.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court has granted permission to expand the SIT investigating the case. Two additional Circle Inspectors will be inducted into the team, taking the total strength of the SIT to ten officers. The court approved the expansion after the investigating agency informed it that the probe had widened across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, making the existing manpower insufficient.
Earlier, the High Court had expressed strong displeasure over the slow pace of the investigation, prompting the SIT to expedite the probe into the high-profile gold smuggling case, which continues to generate political and public attention across the state.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
