CHENNAI: The Kerala Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) has questioned popular actor Jayaram at his residence in Chennai in connection with the high-profile Sabarimala gold theft case. The actor is a witness in the ongoing investigation.
Actor Jayaram's name surfaced after photos and videos purportedly showing his association with the main accused, a Bengaluru-based businessman and former assistant of a junior priest at Sabarimala, Unnikrishnan Potti, went viral on social media.
It is alleged that before being transported to Sabarimala in 2019, the newly gold-plated sheets meant for the renovation of the temple were kept for religious rituals (pooja) at a workshop in Chennai and also at Jayaram's home.
After the videos and photos with Potti surfaced, Jayaram had reportedly stated he had been a devoted pilgrim to Sabarimala for 40 years and knew Potti in that capacity. He also said he had only requested to keep the items at his house for a few minutes for a prayer ritual while they were en route to Sabarimala.
The case pertains to allegations that approximately 4.5 kg gold was misappropriated during renovation work at the Sabarimala temple in 2019. During the maintenance, old gold plates were removed from the sanctum sanctorum doors and the statues of the dwarapalakas (guardian deities) and replaced with new ones.