Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 11 (NationPress) In a significant turn of events regarding the 2019 Sabarimala gold heist case, the former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), N. Vasu, was apprehended on Tuesday evening following two days of intensive questioning.

This arrest signifies a pivotal moment in this high-stakes investigation, as he becomes the first individual with recognized political affiliations to the ruling CPI(M) to be detained.

Vasu, who previously held the role of Devaswom Board Commissioner between 2017 and 2019, during A. Padmakumar's tenure as TDB president, was taken into custody on allegations of negligence regarding the improper removal of gold-plated ornaments from the Dwarapalaka (temple gatekeeper idol) at the Sabarimala temple.

The findings from the Devaswom Vigilance indicated that the incident transpired under his oversight due to administrative shortcomings.

He is expected to appear before the Ranni Magistrate Court later today.

As a former TDB president, Vasu has occupied various significant positions within the government, including serving as a judge on the Vigilance Tribunal and as the private secretary to former Excise Minister P. Gurudasan from 2006 to 2011 during the V.S. Achuthanandan administration.

When the scandal first emerged last month, Vasu had publicly asserted that he had committed no wrongdoing.

With his arrest, the total count of individuals detained in the case has escalated to five.

The others in custody include the primary suspect, Unnikrishnan Potti, labeled as the "sponsor," along with serving TDB official Murari Babu and retired officials Sudheesh Kumar and K. S. Byju.

This case involves the alleged theft and misappropriation of gold associated with the temple’s Dwarapalaka idols.

The Kerala High Court, responding to public outcry, had established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to delve into this matter, which commenced its work by registering two distinct cases.

The opposition Congress has long advocated for Vasu’s arrest, claiming political shielding for senior officials tied to the CPI(M).

Thus, Tuesday’s actions are considered a breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the temple gold scandal, which has ignited both political and public sentiment throughout Kerala.

It remains uncertain whether the court will grant him bail, considering his age and his cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

In the meantime, police efforts to conceal Vasu from the watchful eyes of television news outlets were unsuccessful.

This arrest is anticipated to elate the Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA, both of which have commenced local body election campaigns centered around the Sabarimala gold heist and the perceived efforts by the Vijayan government to obscure the issue.