Sabarimala gold loss case: Tantri's statement recorded by SIT
Pathanamthitta (Kerala) (PTI): The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the gold loss from the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple has recorded the statement of Tantri Mahesh Mohanararu, officials said on Sunday.
Police sources said Mohanararu' statement was recorded a few weeks ago as part of the probe into the permission allegedly granted to prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty to take gold-clad plates of the Dwarapalaka idols and the door frames of the Sreekovil in 2019.
Mohanararu is currently serving as the Tantri (chief priest) at Sabarimala. He was employed in the temple in 2019.
According to SIT sources, the deity's properties can be removed from the temple premises only after obtaining Deva Anujna (divine permission).
Similarly, the Travancore Devaswom Board has to seek the Tantri's permission whenever any repair works are to be carried out at the hill shrine.
The Tantri was questioned about these procedures regarding the removal of the gold-clad plates and their transportation outside the temple by Potty, an official said.
The SIT also examined Potty's frequent visits to the temple posing as a sponsor and his alleged links with the Tantri.
Additionally, the team sought clarification on Mohanararu's visit to Ballari-based gold trader Govardhan, a close associate of Potty, the source said.
Earlier, the SIT had questioned other Tantris--Kandararu Mohanararu and Kandararu Rajeevararu.
So far, six people, including two former TDB presidents, have been arrested in two cases related to the loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka plates and the Sreekovil door frames.
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Electorate in 9 states, UTs shrink by 1.70 crore after SIR
New Delhi (PTI): Voter base in nine states and Union territories has shrunk by more than 1.70 crore following the publication of final electoral rolls as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), according to official data.
The data shared by the chief electoral officers of Gujarat, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa and Kerala on Saturday showed that their combined voter base stood at over 21.45 crore before the SIR exercise began on October 27 last year.
It shrunk to 19.75 crore after publication of their final electoral rolls this week, a net change of over 1.70 crore electors.
While the exercise, which kept the Election Commission in the spotlight, has been completed in Bihar, it is currently underway in 12 states and Union territories covering nearly 60 crore electors.
The remaining 40 crore electors will be covered in 17 states and five Union territories.
In Assam, a "special revision", instead of SIR, was completed on February 10.
Due to a variety of reasons, the SIR in the nine states and three Union territories have seen frequent tweaking in schedules.
As in Bihar, political parties have approached the Supreme Court challenging the exercise in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
