The Enforcement Directorate (ED) went to the Kerala High Court on Friday to request documents related to two cases investigated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Sabarimala gold theft incident,
so they can start an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
In its petition, the ED said it received information that the accused in the two cases used methods that led to valuable temple property being illegally diverted and the money used for personal gain, which is considered proceeds of crime under the PMLA.
The agency said that as the only authority to investigate money laundering, it must start an inquiry under the PMLA to trace, identify, and seize the proceeds of crime from the alleged offenses. The ED said it had asked the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Ranni, Pathanamthitta, last month for certified copies of the FIRs and First Information Statements (FISs) in the two cases.
However, the Magistrate rejected the request on October 17, saying the case was sensitive and the investigation was being monitored by the Kerala High Court. The ED argued in its petition that the Magistrate was wrong to say another agency could not investigate because of the High Court’s order. It said the High Court had earlier ordered that the FIRs registered by the Crime Branch be given to the SIT.
The agency said, “There is no ban on another investigation agency looking into offenses under a special law. The wrong reading of the Division Bench’s order is unreasonable and should be changed.”
The High Court will hear the ED’s petition on Monday. Meanwhile, former Travancore Devaswom Board secretary S Jayashree also went to the High Court on Friday to ask for anticipatory bail in the case about the missing gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols.
She approached the High Court after her anticipatory bail request was rejected by the Pathanamthitta District Principal Sessions Court. In her petition, she said she was worried about being arrested, mentioned health problems, and denied any involvement in the case. The High Court will look at her petition on Tuesday.
