Sabarimala gold theft probe widens, court allows case against ex-Devaswom chief
The Sabarimala gold theft probe team informed the High Court that it has collected materials establishing the role of former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president PS Prashanth.
The Kerala High Court on Monday permitted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged Sabarimala gold misappropriation case to register a fresh criminal case over the replating of the guardian deity (Dwarapalaka) idols, after investigators informed the court that they had gathered evidence linking former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president PS Prashanth and former board member A Ajikumar to the alleged conspiracy.
The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar allowed the SIT to either register a fresh criminal case in connection with the 2025 replating or incorporate its findings into the ongoing investigation into the alleged loss of gold during the 2019 replating exercise.
The development marks a significant expansion of the high-profile probe, as neither Prashanth, a CPI(M) leader, nor Ajikumar, a CPI leader, had figured among the original accused in the case.
The SIT was constituted by the High Court to investigate allegations of gold loss from the guardian deities and the gold-plated door frames of the sanctum sanctorum, which were removed and transported to Chennai for replating in 2019.
COURT CITES EVIDENCE OF DELIBERATE CONCEALMENT
In a strongly worded order, the High Court recorded findings emerging from the investigation and noted that the guardian deities, originally clad with gold in 1998, were transported to Chennai in 2019 at the instance of sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty.
According to the court, officials allegedly concealed the true nature of the idols while obtaining permission for their transportation.
"The officers of the Board, with malicious motive, deliberately described the gold-clad guardian deities as copper plates and concealed its true nature," the order said.
The court observed that this was done to facilitate the removal of the original gold cladding and replace it with only a thin layer of gold plating.
The investigation, the court noted, revealed that during the work undertaken in Chennai, the original gold covering was removed and only a small portion of the extracted gold was required for replating.
"The balance extracted was misappropriated by the accused," the order stated.
FRESH CONSPIRACY ALLEGED AFTER PLATING DETERIORATED
The High Court further noted that the gold plating carried out in 2019 deteriorated within a few months, exposing the copper surface underneath and creating the risk of the alleged fraud being uncovered.
According to the SIT's findings cited in the order, the accused then entered into another conspiracy to transport the idols to Chennai again under the pretext of fresh gold plating.
"The investigation further reveals that, in order to conceal the pilferage and misappropriation of the gold committed during the year 2019, the sponsor and the officers involved entered into a criminal conspiracy to once again transport the Dwarapalakas to Chennai under the guise of carrying out fresh gold plating," the court observed.
The order also stated that the sponsor, along with the proprietor of the Chennai-based firm that carried out the work, allegedly conspired with officials and employees of the Travancore Devaswom Board and influenced the board's decision-making process.
SIT NAMES SEVEN KEY ACCUSED
The investigation team told the court that it had gathered "overwhelming materials" establishing the role of Murari Babu, former Executive Officer; sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty; Pankaj Bhandari, proprietor of Chennai Smart Creations; PS Prashanth, former President of Travancore Devaswom Board; A Ajikumar, former member of the Devaswom Board; Kandararu Rajeevaru, former chief priest and Rejilal, former Thiruvabharanam Commissioner.
According to the SIT, the accused acted in concert pursuant to a premeditated criminal conspiracy, attracting offences including criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal conspiracy under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
PROBE FINDS EFFORTS TO CONCEAL EARLIER GOLD LOSS
Investigating Officer S Sasidharan submitted a detailed status report stating that the conspiracy extended beyond the original accused and involved officials and members of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
The report alleged that after Prashanth assumed office as TDB president in November 2023, Unnikrishnan Potty gained his confidence and persuaded him to facilitate a proposal for fresh replating of the idols.
The SIT claimed that board members facilitated the decision to transport the idols again despite being aware that the move violated provisions of the Devaswom Manual and earlier directions issued by the High Court.
Investigators also cited communications allegedly exchanged between the accused and board officials, which suggested that certain officers and members knew that Potty continued to possess the remaining quantity of gold removed during the 2019 replating process.
Instead of taking corrective action, the SIT alleged, they colluded to conceal the theft and misappropriation.
SREEKOVIL GOLD LOSS PROBE COMPLETED
The SIT informed the court that its investigation into the alleged misappropriation of gold from the sanctum sanctorum (Sreekovil) door frames has been completed and only the filing of the final report remains.
However, it sought additional time to complete the guardian deity idols investigation, citing pending expert reports from the National Metallurgical Laboratory in Jamshedpur and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
The High Court also noted that the role of several other high-profile officials and individuals remains under investigation.
The bench said appropriate action should be taken if sufficient evidence emerges against them, including the filing of supplementary reports.
"It is for the Special Investigation Team to carry the investigation forward with all diligence and vigour," the court observed, directing investigators to leave "no stone unturned" in uncovering the truth and bringing those responsible to justice.
PRASHANTH DENIES WRONGDOING
Responding to the SIT's findings, former Devaswom Board president PS Prashanth described the development as "unexpected" and said he would decide his future course of action after consulting legal experts.
"There are no allegations relating to the 2025 replating except that it was carried out without obtaining the court's permission. We followed all the prescribed procedures while sending the idols for replating," he told reporters.
Prashanth maintained that the board headed by him had no prior knowledge of any alleged loss of gold during the earlier replating process and claimed that his board had decided not to send the guardian deity idols to Chennai through Unnikrishnan Potty in 2025.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 20.
The Kerala High Court on Monday permitted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged Sabarimala gold misappropriation case to register a fresh criminal case over the replating of the guardian deity (Dwarapalaka) idols, after investigators informed the court that they had gathered evidence linking former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president PS Prashanth and former board member A Ajikumar to the alleged conspiracy.
The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar allowed the SIT to either register a fresh criminal case in connection with the 2025 replating or incorporate its findings into the ongoing investigation into the alleged loss of gold during the 2019 replating exercise.
The development marks a significant expansion of the high-profile probe, as neither Prashanth, a CPI(M) leader, nor Ajikumar, a CPI leader, had figured among the original accused in the case.
The SIT was constituted by the High Court to investigate allegations of gold loss from the guardian deities and the gold-plated door frames of the sanctum sanctorum, which were removed and transported to Chennai for replating in 2019.
COURT CITES EVIDENCE OF DELIBERATE CONCEALMENT
In a strongly worded order, the High Court recorded findings emerging from the investigation and noted that the guardian deities, originally clad with gold in 1998, were transported to Chennai in 2019 at the instance of sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty.
According to the court, officials allegedly concealed the true nature of the idols while obtaining permission for their transportation.
"The officers of the Board, with malicious motive, deliberately described the gold-clad guardian deities as copper plates and concealed its true nature," the order said.
The court observed that this was done to facilitate the removal of the original gold cladding and replace it with only a thin layer of gold plating.
The investigation, the court noted, revealed that during the work undertaken in Chennai, the original gold covering was removed and only a small portion of the extracted gold was required for replating.
"The balance extracted was misappropriated by the accused," the order stated.
FRESH CONSPIRACY ALLEGED AFTER PLATING DETERIORATED
The High Court further noted that the gold plating carried out in 2019 deteriorated within a few months, exposing the copper surface underneath and creating the risk of the alleged fraud being uncovered.
According to the SIT's findings cited in the order, the accused then entered into another conspiracy to transport the idols to Chennai again under the pretext of fresh gold plating.
"The investigation further reveals that, in order to conceal the pilferage and misappropriation of the gold committed during the year 2019, the sponsor and the officers involved entered into a criminal conspiracy to once again transport the Dwarapalakas to Chennai under the guise of carrying out fresh gold plating," the court observed.
The order also stated that the sponsor, along with the proprietor of the Chennai-based firm that carried out the work, allegedly conspired with officials and employees of the Travancore Devaswom Board and influenced the board's decision-making process.
SIT NAMES SEVEN KEY ACCUSED
The investigation team told the court that it had gathered "overwhelming materials" establishing the role of Murari Babu, former Executive Officer; sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty; Pankaj Bhandari, proprietor of Chennai Smart Creations; PS Prashanth, former President of Travancore Devaswom Board; A Ajikumar, former member of the Devaswom Board; Kandararu Rajeevaru, former chief priest and Rejilal, former Thiruvabharanam Commissioner.
According to the SIT, the accused acted in concert pursuant to a premeditated criminal conspiracy, attracting offences including criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal conspiracy under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
PROBE FINDS EFFORTS TO CONCEAL EARLIER GOLD LOSS
Investigating Officer S Sasidharan submitted a detailed status report stating that the conspiracy extended beyond the original accused and involved officials and members of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
The report alleged that after Prashanth assumed office as TDB president in November 2023, Unnikrishnan Potty gained his confidence and persuaded him to facilitate a proposal for fresh replating of the idols.
The SIT claimed that board members facilitated the decision to transport the idols again despite being aware that the move violated provisions of the Devaswom Manual and earlier directions issued by the High Court.
Investigators also cited communications allegedly exchanged between the accused and board officials, which suggested that certain officers and members knew that Potty continued to possess the remaining quantity of gold removed during the 2019 replating process.
Instead of taking corrective action, the SIT alleged, they colluded to conceal the theft and misappropriation.
SREEKOVIL GOLD LOSS PROBE COMPLETED
The SIT informed the court that its investigation into the alleged misappropriation of gold from the sanctum sanctorum (Sreekovil) door frames has been completed and only the filing of the final report remains.
However, it sought additional time to complete the guardian deity idols investigation, citing pending expert reports from the National Metallurgical Laboratory in Jamshedpur and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
The High Court also noted that the role of several other high-profile officials and individuals remains under investigation.
The bench said appropriate action should be taken if sufficient evidence emerges against them, including the filing of supplementary reports.
"It is for the Special Investigation Team to carry the investigation forward with all diligence and vigour," the court observed, directing investigators to leave "no stone unturned" in uncovering the truth and bringing those responsible to justice.
PRASHANTH DENIES WRONGDOING
Responding to the SIT's findings, former Devaswom Board president PS Prashanth described the development as "unexpected" and said he would decide his future course of action after consulting legal experts.
"There are no allegations relating to the 2025 replating except that it was carried out without obtaining the court's permission. We followed all the prescribed procedures while sending the idols for replating," he told reporters.
Prashanth maintained that the board headed by him had no prior knowledge of any alleged loss of gold during the earlier replating process and claimed that his board had decided not to send the guardian deity idols to Chennai through Unnikrishnan Potty in 2025.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 20.
