CHENNAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched searches at multiple locations in Chennai in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case.
The raids have been underway since Tuesday morning at jewellery shops in Ambattur and in areas including Vepery, said a Daily Thanthi report.
According to sources, the ED is conducting these searches to probe possible illegal money transactions linked to the case. Simultaneous raids are also being carried out in Kerala and Karnataka as part of the investigation.
The premises linked to the main accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, in Bengaluru and former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A Padmakumar in Kerala apart from jewellers were covered by the federal probe agency as part of the action.
The ED filed a PMLA case on January 9 taking cognisance of a clutch of Kerala police FIRs.
The politically sensitive case is already being investigated by a state Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of the Kerala High Court.
The probe is related to a series of irregularities, including official misconduct, administrative lapses and a criminal conspiracy to misappropriate the gold from the various artefacts of the Lord Ayyappa shrine.
The charges also include the loss of gold from the gold-cladded copper plates of the 'Dwarapalaka' (guardian deity) idols and the door frames of the 'Sreekovil' (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple.
ED officials said preliminary investigation shows that gold-clad sacred artefacts were deliberately misrepresented as "copper plates" in official records and unlawfully removed from the temple premises between 2019 and 2025.
The gold was allegedly extracted through chemical processes at private facilities in Chennai and Karnataka, generating proceeds of crime which were retained, transferred and concealed, as per the officials.
They said the searches are aimed to trace the alleged illicit funds, identify beneficiaries, seize incriminating documents and digital evidence and "ascertain the full extent" of money laundering involved.
The investigation also indicates alleged financial irregularities and scams at Sabarimala, including misappropriation related to temple offerings and rituals, as per the ED officials.