‘Diamond Money’ D Money: Gang Planned ₹1,000-Crore Operation in Kerala, Padmanabhaswamy Temple Also Targeted
Pathanamthitta: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has questioned D Money in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case. Reports indicate that the SIT has confirmed that D Money’s real name is Balamurugan. The interrogation is expected to continue today as well.
The questioning is based on the statement of a foreign businessman who claimed that D Money had purchased panchaloha (five-metal) idols. D Money, popularly known as Diamond Money, is a native of Dindigul. According to the SIT’s findings during their visit to Chennai, he was initially a diamond trader, which is how he earned the nickname “Diamond Money.”
The SIT conducted a preliminary interrogation of D Money yesterday and is expected to question him in detail today. Investigators are trying to determine whether D Money has roots in Kerala and whether he and his associates were involved in smuggling panchaloha idols linked to Sabarimala.
The statement given by the foreign businessman, which was recorded by the SIT following claims made by Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, contains shocking revelations. According to the statement, D Money allegedly collaborated with a senior individual in Kerala to smuggle panchaloha idols. In return, D Money is said to have handed over approximately ₹500 crore to the politically influential figure. The intermediary in this transaction was reportedly Unnikrishnan Potti, an accused in the gold theft case.
The SIT plans to interrogate D Money in detail to verify whether such a massive transaction actually took place, as claimed in the statement.
The foreign businessman further stated that Sabarimala was not the only target of D Money and his group. The gang allegedly aimed to carry out transactions worth ₹1,000 crore in Kerala. Of this, ₹500 crore was allegedly paid for smuggling panchaloha idols from Sabarimala. The remaining ₹500 crore was reportedly earmarked for smuggling priceless treasures from the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. However, according to the statement, this plan did not materialize.