SIT names former TDB president, others as accused in Sabarimala gold theft case

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the sensational Sabarimala gold theft case on Monday filed a report before the Kerala High Court naming former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president PS Prashanth, Unnikrishnan Potty, Sabarimala Thantri Kandaru Rajeevaru and others as accused in the case.

According to the report, the first accused is the late former Executive Officer Murari Babu. Besides him, former TDB president PS Prashanth, Sabarimala Thantri Kandaru Rajeevaru, sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty, Chennai-based Smart Creations owner Pankaj Bhandari, TDB member A Ajikumar and Thiruvabharanam Commissioner Rajilal have also been named as accused.

Advertisement

The SIT informed the High Court that its investigation had uncovered evidence suggesting that the alleged conspiracy extended beyond the original accused to include other TDB officials and members.

One of the key findings of the SIT is that the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols were sent for gold replating again in 2025 to conceal the alleged large-scale gold plating scam that took place in 2019. According to the investigation report, the idols were deliberately removed and replated to prevent the earlier alleged irregularities from coming to light.

The report states that the gold-clad Dwarapalaka idols, originally covered with a thick layer of gold in 1998, were transported to Chennai in 2019 at the instance of Unnikrishnan Potty. During the process, the original thick gold cladding was allegedly stripped off and replaced with only a thin layer of gold, while the remaining gold was allegedly misappropriated.

To avoid immediate suspicion, the accused allegedly issued a fraudulent 40-year quality warranty certificate. However, the poor-quality work deteriorated within months, exposing the copper beneath the gold coating.

According to the SIT, after PS Prashanth became TDB president, Unnikrishnan Potty allegedly gained his confidence and pushed for a fresh proposal to replate the idols. The investigation claims that the second transfer of the idols to Chennai in 2025 was intended to cover up the alleged theft that had taken place in 2019.

The report further alleges that former TDB members and officials deliberately described the highly valuable gold-clad idols as simple “copper plates” in official transit permits to conceal their actual value and bypass mandatory judicial procedures.

The SIT also informed the Kerala High Court that the investigation into the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) doorframes has been completed and the final charge sheet has been filed. It has sought a short extension to complete the remaining investigation relating to the Dwarapalaka idols.

Following the presentation of what the SIT described as substantial evidence, the High Court granted the agency permission to register a fresh criminal case against former TDB president PS Prashanth and others in connection with the alleged 2025 replating of the temple’s Dwarapalaka idols.

The court observed that if sufficient evidence emerges against any of the accused, the SIT should proceed in accordance with law, including filing supplementary charge sheets, if required.