Kochi, March 4 The ED questioned Sabarimala tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru on Wednesday as part of an investigation into money laundering linked to the alleged loss of gold at Sabarimala, officials said.
The tantri arrived at the Enforcement Directorate office around 2:30 pm and left around 5:45 pm, they added.
Rajeevaru is the 16th accused in a case related to the loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) plates, and the 13th accused in another case concerning the alleged loss of gold from the doorframes of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum).
Last month, a vigilance court granted him bail in both cases, noting that there was "not even an iota of evidence" against him.
On Tuesday, the ED had questioned former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) official N Vasu as part of the same money laundering probe.
Vasu was arrested last year by a Special Investigation Team in the Sabarimala gold loss cases and was recently released on statutory bail.
Besides the tantri (chief priest) and Vasu, the ED has also questioned former Sabarimala administrative officers S Sreekumar and Murari Babu, former TDB secretary S Jayasree, and actor Jayaram as part of its investigation.
The agency filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in January this year based on two Kerala police FIRs concerning the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and the doorframes of the Sreekovil of the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.
The alleged misappropriation is being investigated by the SIT, constituted under the supervision of the Kerala High Court.
