Sabarimala gold theft case: Pinarayi denies interference by his office in SIT probe

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday denied any interference by his office in the probe by the special investigation team (SIT) in the gold theft case linked to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.

Countering United Democratic Front convener Adoor Prakash MP’s insinuation against Mr. Vijayan’s political secretary, Mr. Vijayan, at a press conference here, said it was common knowledge that the SIT probe was monitored by the High Court. He also ruled out the need for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe at this stage. It was generally accepted that the SIT investigation was progressing smoothly. So far, no complaints had been levelled against it, he said.

Mr. Prakash’s allegation against the CMO was provoked by an inability to answer certain other questions, the Chief Minister said. It was meant to divert attention from the real issue — as to how the prime accused in the case had gained access to a high-profile leader such as Sonia Gandhi.

Mr. Prakash’s name had cropped up in connection with this case after a photograph showing prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti and the Bellary-based jeweller Govardhan with Ms. Gandhi surfaced. “How did these two individuals gain access to a high-security leader like Sonia Gandhi?” Mr. Vijayan said. “Isn’t that the real issue here? Who was responsible for it. That should be cleared up first,” he said.

Mr. Prakash also should clarify as to why he accepted the invitation extended to him by Mr. Potti, the Chief Minister said. “Mr. Prakash says he went because Potti had invited him. Is he someone who should have accepted Potti’s invitation just like that?” Mr. Vijayan said.

He reiterated that neither he nor his office had at any stage interfered in the investigation. “Moreover, it was our suggestion that a special team should be constituted and that the investigation should be supervised by the High Court,” he said.

On the SIT quizzing Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, the Chief Minister said the SIT may need to contact or question various persons to bring clarity to issues.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Prakash told the media that he was not summoned by the SIT for questioning in connection with the case but “the news of the SIT’s intent to question” him was flashed by television channels. “If I’m called, I will take the media along. If that’s not permitted, I’ll say whatever is known to me before the media ahead of my questioning,” he said.

Meanwhile, All India Congress Committee general secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal questioned the credibility of the SIT probe, saying that the limits of the investigation were being decided by the government. “The government’s interests are being protected in the SIT’s questioning itself,” he said.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph too expressed dissatisfaction over the functioning of the SIT. “Can the Chief Minister refute the High Court’s observation that the SIT investigation lacked pace and that it was not able to net the big sharks?” he asked.