The SIT recorded his arrest around 3 pm, after interrogating him in Thiruvananthapuram. Padmakumar had earlier presented himself before the investigators.
Published Nov 20, 2025 | 6:49 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 20, 2025 | 7:02 PM
CPI(M) leader A Padmakumar
Synopsis: On 11 November, another ex-president of the TDB, N Vasu, was arrested in the case. Earlier, three others, Unnikrishnan Potty, former TDB administrative officer Murari Babu and former executive officer D Sudheesh Kumar were arrested.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the gold theft at the Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Sabarimala, arrested A Padmakumar, former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), on Thursday, 20 November.
The SIT recorded his arrest around 3 pm, after interrogating him in Thiruvananthapuram. Padmakumar had earlier presented himself before the investigators.
The SIT has reportedly concluded that Padmakumar was a key conspirator along with former administrative officer Unnikrishnan Potty.
Investigators have also traced alleged financial transactions between the two.
All four arrested so far — Unnikrishnan Potty, former administrative officer Murari Babu, former executive officer D. Sudheeshkumar, and former Devaswom Commissioner and president N. Vasu — are said to have given statements implicating Padmakumar.
According to SIT sources, these statements suggest that the directive to convert the temple’s gold into copper was issued on Padmakumar’s instructions.
His financial dealings are now under detailed scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Vasu, arrested earlier, has been remanded in SIT custody till 4 pm on Thursday, with the probe team planning a joint interrogation of Vasu and Padmakumar.
The deepening investigation has come at an inconvenient moment for the CPI(M), which is battling to gain ground ahead of the local body elections.
The questioning of one of its prominent leaders has amplified political tensions, giving fresh ammunition to the Opposition at a critical phase of campaigning.
.Potty has been accused of diverting around two kilograms of gold under the pretext of gold-plating the Dwarapalaka idols, despite the work being completed in 1998. Babu and Kumar reportedly told investigators that Vasu was privy to the illegal activities.
Reports said the arrested person, from Babu to Vasu, had provided statements, implicating Padmakumar in the case.
A prominent CPI(M) leader, Padmakumar, is also a former MLA. He would be produced before the vigilance court in Kollam.
Responding to Padmakumar’s arrest, CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan said the party will not interfere in the probe into the Sabarimala gold theft case.
He stated that the investigation team has full authority to question or arrest anyone and stressed that an arrest does not imply guilt, which only the court can decide.
Padmakumar, a senior CPM leader and former MLA, is a district committee member. His arrest has created concern within the party ahead of the local body elections.
According to investigators, Potti, who had sponsored the Dwarapalaka idol coverings, allegedly siphoned off gold from them under the guise of electroplating.
He has been named the first accused in the case, while his associate, Kalpesh, has been listed as the second accused.
According to reports, gold-cladded plates weighing 42.8 kg, when handed over in July 2019, were returned weighing only 38.2 kg a month later — a difference of 4.5 kg that remains unexplained.
The idols had been entrusted to Potty, the project’s sponsor, and sent to Smart Creations in Chennai for plating, in violation of the Devaswom Sub-Group Manual that mandates such work be done at Sannidhanam itself.
A vigilance probe report added that no registers detailing the gold quantity were maintained and that another set of Dwarapalaka idols allegedly kept in the temple strong room could not be traced. Then came the most sensational twist.
On 27 September, vigilance officers raided the residence of Mini, sister of Potty, near Venjaramoodu in Thiruvananthapuram, and seized gold-plated peedams concealed in a sealed cover.
Potty, despite filing an affidavit earlier, had failed to disclose possession of these sacred objects.
Meanwhile, with top Congress leaders alleged deep-rooted political conspiracy and demanded that the investigation be taken to the highest levels of the ruling establishment.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph MLA said Padmakumar’s arrest has “shattered the CPI(M)’s false propaganda” and exposed the administration’s attempts to shield politically influential accused.
He alleged that the SIT was compelled to arrest Padmakumar due to sustained High Court intervention and overwhelming evidence.
Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithala claimed that the arrests of Padmakumar and former TDB president Vasu were “just the tip of the iceberg,” insisting that ministers and senior CPI(M) leaders were the “real masterminds” behind what he described as one of Kerala’s biggest corruption scandals.
“Three Devaswom ministers are directly involved,” he alleged, demanding that the probe be extended to them.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan sharpened the attack, accusing the CPI(M) of “looting the Sabarimala temple using the power entrusted to them by the people.”
Pointing to alleged links between former Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran and prime accused Potti, he demanded an investigation against the former minister as well.
“The procession of CPI(M) leaders going to jail has begun,” Satheesan said.
AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said the arrests have made the “high-level political intrigue” behind the theft evident.
He criticised CPI(M) state secretary Govindan for defending Padmakumar despite the SIT’s findings, alleging a “clear attempt to stall the investigation.”
The opposition maintains that without continued judicial oversight, the probe will not reach those “who treated Padmakumar as god-like”.
The CPI(M) has not issued a detailed response beyond reiterating that the party “does not protect wrongdoers”.
