Investigators detailed how the accused manipulated procedures to divert temple gold, outlining suspected conspiracies that took shape in Bengaluru and Chennai.
Published Oct 21, 2025 | 6:21 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 21, 2025 | 6:21 PM
Gold-plated sanctum sanctorum of Sabarimala.
Synopsis: The SIT was constituted to probe the missing gold from the dwarapalaka idols, and the bench has now asked the team to also examine possible losses in the lintels and side frames of the sanctum sanctorum at Sabarimala.
A special investigation team has submitted a preliminary report to the Kerala High Court, which includes statements from Unnikrishnan Potty, the accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, against Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials.
According to the remand report filed at the Ranni court, Potty allegedly falsified mahazar records in 2019, showing gold-clad panels as copper, and handed them over to others with forged signatures.
He is accused of diverting around two kilograms of gold under the pretext of gold-plating the dwarapalaka idols, despite the work being completed in 1998.
The SIT has also placed certain TDB officials under scrutiny for approving the transport of panels to Chennai while knowing the idols were already gold-plated.
The Kerala High Court has issued an interim order in the case, directing the SIT to probe whether a larger conspiracy was behind the theft. The case will be reconsidered on 15 November.
During the in-camera proceedings, SIT chief SP S Sasidharan and Vigilance SP Sunil Kumar appeared before the court.
Investigators detailed in the interim report how the accused manipulated procedures to divert temple gold, outlining suspected conspiracies that took shape in Bengaluru and Chennai, involving Potty.
The report also traced the possible routes of the missing gold and highlighted the progress of the ongoing probe, including Potty’s arrest and indications of more arrests to follow.
The court held an in-camera hearing following a notification issued by the court registry on Monday, 20 October. A Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar considered the matter privately.
During the previous session, the court had warned against contradictory media reports and directed the SIT not to engage with the media or public.
The alleged gold discrepancy surfaced when the court, acting on a suo motu petition, noted that the gold-clad copper panels of the dwarapalaka idols and peedam were removed without informing the special commissioner.
The SIT was earlier constituted to probe the missing gold from the dwarapalaka idols, and the bench has now asked the team to also examine possible losses in the lintels and side frames of the sanctum sanctorum at Sabarimala.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
