Theft at Sabarimala Sannidhanam, one arrested

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) Vigilance has arrested a contract employee for stealing cash from the hundi at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam. The accused, who allegedly stole ₹23,130 during duty hours, was caught red-handed. He has been identified as K.R. Ratheesh, a native of Vemballur in Thrissur district. The Sannidhanam police have registered a case.

During a routine check when he went to the toilet while on duty, officials recovered ₹3,000 from him. Further inspection revealed that six ₹500 notes had been concealed inside a hand glove cloth pouch provided to workers for wearing while counting offerings.

Subsequently, a search conducted at his place of stay led to the recovery of an additional ₹20,130. Police suspect that the currency notes were rolled up and smuggled out by concealing them in private parts.

More than 300 employees are deployed in two hundi units near the Sannidhanam for counting offerings, of whom around 200 are temporary staff. The counting area is under round-the-clock CCTV surveillance, police security and Vigilance monitoring and workers are allowed entry wearing only a single mundu. Despite these stringent measures, the accused allegedly managed to smuggle out cash in a highly clandestine manner.

Meanwhile, the Devaswom Vigilance recovered ₹64,354 from an area near the Malikappuram Melsanthi Madam where sacks of rice are stored. The cash, comprising coins and currency notes, was found abandoned between stacks of sacks during an inspection. The area is used to store rice offered to the temple. Vigilance officials suspect that someone may have collected the offerings and hidden the money among the sacks.