The Special Investigation Team (SIT) recorded a formal statement from Malayalam actor Jayaram at his residence in Chennai regarding the Sabarimala gold misappropriation case. The SIT investigates the Sabarimala temple case, which involves complaints of gold theft from the Dwarapalaka guardian deity idols and the Sreekovil sanctum sanctorum doorframes, while Jayaram serves as a crucial witness in this high-profile investigation.
The inquiry began after 2019 videos showed Jayaram taking part in a religious ceremony organised by the main suspect, Unnikrishnan Potti, in Chennai. The rituals used gold-covered copper plates intended for temple decoration. The actor revealed during interrogation that he had known Potti since they both had dedicated their lives to Lord Ayyappa. He told people about his home rituals to bring new gold plates because Potti claimed this practice would help him achieve spiritual progress and financial success.
Jayaram still claims he did not know of any financial wrongdoing, including the unauthorised movement of temple artefacts. The SIT investigation found that Jayaram had no business connections to the accused, leading to his dismissal from the case. His testimony provides essential evidence that temple possessions were left in Kerala for public display without proper permits. Authorities continue their investigation to find the stolen gold and determine how much gold has actually been stolen.
