Kochi: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) conducted flash raids across Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in connection with the Sabarimala gold robbery case on Tuesday, media reports said.
Raids were held in Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) office in Thiruvananthapuram and the residence of former TDB president and Ex MLA A Padmakumar of CPM in Aranmula, Alappuzha.
Raids were held in houses of prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, at Thiruvananthapuram, former TDB Commissioner and Ex president, N Vasu, at Thiruvananthapuram, and former TDB executive officer Murari Babu at Perunna in Kottayam.
ED simultaneously raided the residence and office of Pankaj Bhandari, owner of Smart Creations, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and the premises of jeweller Govardhan’s shop, at Bellary in Karnataka. The ED was given permission by a court in December to carry out raids under various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The court had overruled the State’s argument that a parallel ED enquiry could jeopardise the ongoing probe by the High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Thirteen persons, including the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple’s chief priest, Kantararu Rajeevaru, are accused in the cases.
ED raids in 3 states in Sabarimala gold case
