Sabarimala Gold Theft: SIT to Take Key TDB Officials into Custody for Misrepresentation

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the high-profile Sabarimala gold missing scandal has gathered damning evidence implicating Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) employees in a deliberate fraud, paving the way for imminent arrests of key accused this week. Former Sabarimala administrative officer B. Murari Babu and executive officer D. Sudheesh Kumar top the list, accused of colluding with main suspect Unnikrishnan Potti to misrepresent gold-plated artefacts as mere copper sheets, enabling the stripping and sale of precious metal from the temple's sacred idols. This escalation marks a critical phase in the year-long investigation into one of Kerala's most revered shrines, where devotees' offerings worth crores allegedly vanished under official noses.

The fraud's modus operandi hinged on deception: Murari Babu penned a letter to Sudheesh Kumar claiming Potti had "volunteered" to electroplate gold onto copper sheets from the dwarapalaka (guardian) idols and sanctum sanctorum corners—a blatant lie to greenlight unauthorised access. The SIT views this mislabelling as intentional, designed to bypass scrutiny and facilitate Potti's extraction of gold layers, later melted and laundered. Sudheesh Kumar compounded the ruse by recommending to the then-Devaswom Board Commissioner that Potti be allowed to "plate" the so-called copper sheets, again omitting their true gold-plated value. Sources indicate Sudheesh's communique explicitly recorded the materials as copper, suggesting a coordinated cover-up within TDB ranks. Potti, a Thrissur-based contractor with prior temple renovation ties, surrendered in 2024 after raids uncovered gold traces in his possession, but the probe has since widened to ensnare bureaucratic enablers.

Sabarimala, drawing over 40 million pilgrims annually for the Mandala season, symbolises Hindu devotion to Lord Ayyappa, with its 18th-century artefacts embodying centuries of opulent donations. The scandal erupted in late 2024 when discrepancies in inventory audits revealed 20 kg of gold missing from idols and adornments, sparking outrage and a high court-mandated SIT under the Crime Branch. Initial findings pointed to systemic lapses in TDB's asset management, including lax CCTV and unverified contractor logs, echoing past controversies like the 2011 Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple vault discoveries that unearthed billions in treasures. The SIT's evidence haul—comprising emails, ledgers, and metallurgical tests—bolsters claims of embezzlement totalling Rs 10 crore, potentially involving multiple officials who signed off on "restoration" works.

Also Read: Sabarimala Gold Theft: SIT Questions Potti’s Friend Who Took Artefacts to Bengaluru

As arrests loom, the probe tests Kerala's temple governance amid political crossfire: the BJP accuses the LDF government of shielding insiders, while Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan vows zero tolerance. Devotees demand forensic audits of all TDB holdings, fearing deeper rot. With the 2025 pilgrimage season approaching, swift justice could restore faith; delays risk eroding trust in institutions safeguarding Kerala's spiritual economy, valued at Rs 5,000 crore yearly. The SIT's next moves, including custodial interrogations, may unravel a broader network, underscoring the perils of unchecked authority in sacred spaces.

Also Read: Sabarimala Gold Theft: Sponsor Unnikrishnan Potti Arrested, SIT Investigates Alleged TDB Involvement