Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 2: The BJP on Friday intensified its attack on the Congress over the Sabarimala gold theft case, asserting that the controversy cannot be resolved without a probe by central agencies and alleging that the Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi, has serious questions to answer.

Former BJP state president K. Surendran said the ongoing state-level investigation would not bring out the truth and was being structured to protect politically influential individuals.

Surendran recalled that the Kerala High Court had, at the very outset, expressed suspicion over the possible involvement of notorious idol-smuggling syndicates.

He said subsequent disclosures by Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and senior legislator Ramesh Chennithala lent credibility to concerns that the stolen gold and artefacts may have entered the international antiquities market.

“What was stolen is invaluable. This is not a local crime but an international idol-smuggling racket,” Surendran said.

The BJP leader placed particular emphasis on what he termed the Congress angle, referring to a photograph of Sonia Gandhi with prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti that surfaced during the course of the investigation.

Surendran said there was initially no reason for suspicion, as such interactions could appear routine. However, he accused senior Congress leaders, including Chennithala and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, of gradually retreating from their initial positions once the issue gained public traction.

“Why did they step back? Why is there no clear explanation?” he asked.

Criticising Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s remarks on Sonia Gandhi as “political manoeuvring,” Surendran demanded clarity on who introduced the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti to the Congress leadership.

He further alleged that individuals with close familial links to Sonia Gandhi in Italy are involved in the marketing of antiquities, arguing that this alleged international dimension warrants a thorough investigation by central agencies.

Surendran claimed that Chennithala may not have fully grasped the implications initially but later “entangled himself” by making partial disclosures.

“If he has information, why is he not standing firmly by it?” he asked, accusing the Congress of evasiveness and selective silence.

In a sarcastic remark, Surendran said that if the prevailing narrative is that CPI(M) leaders stole the gold, it may have to be amended to suggest that the Congress facilitated its sale.

“The Congress has an equal stake in this case and will not walk away unscathed,” he said.

Surendran also named former Travancore Devaswom Board member K.P. Shankardas as a key figure who, he alleged, enjoys high-level protection and has so far escaped scrutiny.

He claimed that arrests of prominent individuals took place only under strict court directives and criticised changes made to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) after the questioning of former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, alleging that officers sympathetic to the CPI (M) were subsequently inducted.

All these factors, he said, underline the urgent need for a comprehensive investigation by central agencies.

Thane: The Thane crime branch has arrested a 36-year-old man and seized 638 kg of marijuana worth about ₹2.04 crore during an operation on December 30.

The accused has been identified as Chinna Tagur Laxman Nayak, a resident of Mehabubnagar district in Telangana, who would often ferry the drugs from Odisha and Telangana to the city.

Acting on a tip-off, the property cell of the crime branch learned that a large drug consignment was being brought to Thane. A trap was laid at Kharegaon toll naka in Kalwa on the Mumbai–Nashik highway, and the police intercepted an Innova and found 638 kg of ganja hidden inside the vehicle. The drugs are estimated to be worth ₹2.04 crore in the illicit market.

The accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. He was produced before a local court and has been remanded to police custody till January 3.

We suspect that an entire gang is operating in the region, and we will soon trace the remaining members- Amarsinh Jadhav

Amarsinh Jadhav, deputy commissioner of police (Crime), said , “Our team is investigating further to identify the source of the contraband and the individual to whom the consignment was to be delivered. We suspect that an entire gang is operating in the region, and we will soon trace the remaining members.”

Mumbai: Ramakant Gore, 45, a resident of Khar West who works as a recovery agent with a reputed bank, was shocked after receiving notices in the names of his wife and daughter from the Karnataka GST department, demanding payment of outstanding dues amounting to Rs. 47.36 lakh. The Gore family claims they have never conducted any business in Karnataka and suspects that their PAN card details were misused to register fake firms. Following a complaint, the Khar police registered an FIR on December 31.

According to the FIR, a GST arrears notice dated January 19, 2024, was received in the name of the complainant’s wife, Savita Gore, under the firm name M/s Gore Traders. Subsequently, on February 26, 2024, action was initiated against her SBI bank account due to the pending dues, leading to the freezing of her fixed deposit of Rs.6 lakh along with the remaining account balance. After the Gore family approached the Karnataka GST office, the account was later defrozen.

However, in September 2024, another notice was received in the names of M/s Vasant Traders and M/s Gore Traders. The notice bore Savita Gore’s purported signature, following which the account was once again frozen by the Karnataka GST department. In November 2025, the bank account of their daughter, Dhanashree Gore, was also frozen, and in December 2025, the family received a summons from the Income Tax Department. The Gore family has since submitted all relevant documents to the Income Tax authorities.

The family has alleged that neither they nor any of their family members have ever started or operated any business under the names Gore Traders or Vasant Traders. They claim that unknown persons misused their PAN card details to fraudulently register fake companies in Bengaluru. The family stated that they are undergoing severe financial and mental distress due to the incident and have demanded a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible.

Based on the complaint, the Khar police have registered an FIR against an unidentified person under Section 318(4) (cheating) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with sections of the Information Technology Act.