Thiruvananthapuram , 08 Jan (HS): Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday said that a non-resident Indian (NRI) businessman had provided clear and specific leads to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged gold theft linked to the Sabarimala temple, and asserted that a proper investigation based on those inputs would reveal the truth behind the missing valuables.

Addressing the media, Chennithala said he had personally spoken to the businessman immediately after learning about the SIT report. According to him, the businessman had shared crucial information indicating where the investigation should be focused. Chennithala clarified that the details conveyed to him by the businessman were promptly passed on to the SIT and that he had no personal involvement in the case beyond sharing the information as a responsible public representative.

He stressed that the businessman had repeatedly told him that if the SIT pursued the leads sincerely, the real facts would emerge. As a public figure, Chennithala said he felt it was his duty to inform the investigating agency about what was conveyed to him. He added that it was for the SIT to investigate, verify, and uncover the truth, and that he did not know what exactly had transpired so far in the probe.

Chennithala further revealed that the businessman had expressed willingness to give a statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code before a magistrate. He said the businessman had told him that he was aware of certain facts but was afraid to speak publicly. Based on this, Chennithala informed the SIT and, as per their direction, appeared before the investigation team and shared all the information he knew. The SIT, he added, had also questioned the NRI businessman directly.

Reiterating his concerns, Chennithala asked pointed questions about the fate of the gold allegedly stolen from Sabarimala. He questioned where the gold had gone and what had happened to the seized valuables. He pointed out that it was not just the 300 grams allegedly recovered from Govardhan that was missing, but a much larger quantity of temple property, and asked whether it should not be traced and properly accounted for.

While stating that he was not directly accusing the SIT, Chennithala expressed serious apprehensions about attempts to influence the probe. He alleged that over the past several days, the Chief Minister’s Office had been trying to exert pressure on the SIT. He also pointed out that two individuals with links to the CPI(M)-affiliated police association had been included in the investigation team, calling the move highly suspicious and detrimental to the credibility of the investigation.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman