Overwhelming evidence against ex-TDB President, 6 others in Sabarimala gold theft: SIT to Kerala HC

There is overwhelming evidence to establish the role of seven persons including former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President PS Prashanth in the misappropriation of gold from Sabarimala temple, the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case told the Kerala High Court on Monday [Suo Motu v The State of Kerala & ors]..According to the report submitted by the SIT, the seven persons whose roles have been established in the alleged misappropriation of gold are:Sabarimala Executive Officer, Murari Babu;Sponsor, Unnikrishnan Potty;Smart Creations proprietor, Pankaj Bhandari;former TDB President, PS Prashanth;TDB member, Adv A Ajikumar;Chief Priest (thantri), Kandararu Rajeevaru andTDB Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, Rejilal.They have been booked for offences, including criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal conspiracy punishable under Sections 316(2), 316(5), 336(2) and 61(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the SIT report said..A Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar recorded the findings in its order and also directed the SIT to speed up the probe."Every endeavour shall be made to ensure that no stone is left unturned in unearthing the truth and bringing all those found responsible to justice, in accordance with law," the Court added.The Bench was considering the suo motu proceedings initiated over the alleged theft of gold from the Dwarkapalaka idols placed on either side of the sanctum sanctorum at the Sabarimala temple..SIT also informed the Court that investigation into the alleged role of other former TDB officials, including board member Sundareshan, secretary Bindhu, thantri Mahesh Mohanararu, Thiruvabharanam Commissioner Sunila was ongoing.The Court directed SIT to take appropriate action against them if sufficient material emerges in relation to the gold misappropriation.Since expert reports from the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre were still awaited, the Court granted 2 more weeks to the SIT to complete investigation.The case will be heard next on July 20..The case arose after it was allegations surfaced regarding misappropriation of gold from the Dwarapalakas which were donated by a devotee along with the gold coverings over the sides and roof of the 'Sreekovil' in 1999.The gold coverings were removed in 2019 and taken to Chennai for repair works and mahazars prepared by the TDB at the time of the removal described the plates as copper sheets and not gold-plated copper plates.Controversy arose after several kilograms of gold was found to be missing when the plates were measured after repair work.In 2025, when the gold cladded plates were taken for repair works, the special commissioner alerted the Court that the TDB removed the gold plated copper plates and handed it over to a devotee named Unnikrishnan Potti without prior intimation or approval from the special commissioner or the Court for repair and electroplating.The High Court initiated suo motu proceedings and instituted an SIT to investigate the alleged crimes, it has since been monitoring the progress.The investigating officers of the SIT personally appeared before the Court today and their submissions were heard in-camera before today's order was dictated in open court..Standing counsel G Biju represented the Travancore Devaswom Board..[Read Order]