Kochi: Sabarimala Temple gold robbery case second accused Murari Babu was sent to four days police custody by a court in Pathanamthitta in Kerala, media reports said.
The suspended Travancore Devaswom Board official was taken to the Crime Branch office in Thiruvananthapuram by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Kerala High Court to probe the sensitive case.
The SIT prayed before the court for Babu’s custody for recording evidence by questioning him along with the Prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti.
The case involved smuggling of the gold coated articles outside the temple in violation of the norms of the temple. While the articles were taken out under the pretext of gold coating them in Chennai, even as the main intention was to extract gold from them and sell it to the needy.
The TDB entrusted the articles to Potti who kept them in his and others’ custody for many days. They were taken to many places of top personalities including actor Jayaram in Chennai.
There are three different FIRs registered in the case.
The Devaswom bench of Kerala High Court is monitoring the case investigated by the SIT who has been directed to report the progress of the probe at regular intervals.
Meanwhile, the SIT is moving against the TDB officials for refusing to hand over valid documents governing the temple.
Murari in SIT custody
