Jayaram appears before ED in Sabarimala gold theft case, says, ‘let others also get caught, lord Ayyappa won't spare them’

Jayaram appears before ED in Sabarimala Gold Case, says, ‘let others also get caught, lord Ayyappa won't spare them’

• Actor Jayaram questioned by ED over Sabarimala gold case
• ED probes financial irregularities in temple gold assets
• Jayaram says he attended rituals, denies knowledge of wrongdoing

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Actor Jayaram appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday (February 17) for questioning in connection with the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala temple.

According to reports, Jayaram arrived at the ED office and briefly interacted with the media before entering for the inquiry.

The agency is probing suspected financial irregularities linked to gold assets of the Sabarimala temple under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Speaking to reporters outside the ED office, the actor said, “I am also such a Malayali who is obliged to help with that. In the last 10-38 years, I have been invited to many temples for various pujas and other religious ceremonies or events and I attend as many of them as possible. That is how I was called for a puja in connection with the Sabarimala artefacts.”

He further clarified that he had attended rituals upon invitation and that any alleged irregularities are a matter for the authorities to investigate. “I was called for such pujas by them (Unnikrishnan Potty and others) several times. So, whether there was any irregularity behind it is being investigated by the court and the concerned agencies,” Jayaram stated.

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Emphasising that the truth should come out, he added, “So, that is why I have been called. If there are any others involved in the matter, let them also get caught. Lord Ayyappa will not spare them.”

The case pertains to allegations that gold was misappropriated from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) of the Sabarimala temple. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala Police had earlier questioned Jayaram in connection with the matter.

Unnikrishnan Potty, a priest-turned-real estate businessman, is reportedly at the centre of the case. He has been accused of pilfering gold from the temple’s sanctum and from gold-clad sheets covering the guardian idols under the guise of “re-plating” them with gold in 2019. Potty, who is the first accused in the case, is currently out on bail.

The ED is examining whether there was any exchange of money between Jayaram and Potty in the name of rituals associated with the Sabarimala gold assets. It is also looking into allegations that several individuals, including celebrities, were made to believe that conducting prayers in the presence of temple door frames would bring them good fortune.

The Kochi unit of the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) last month and has sought relevant documents from the SIT as part of its ongoing investigation.