The SIT probe reveals that the Dwarapalakas, which were originally clad with gold in 1998, were transported from Sabarimala to Chennai 2019 at Unnikrishnan Potti’s request. File
An interim report submitted before the Kerala High Court by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala temple during the course of gold-plating works in 2025, has mentioned criminal conspiracy in this regard by, among others, P.S. Prashanth who was then the president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). Following this, the court permitted the SIT to register a fresh case against Mr Prashanth and the others.
The report further states that collected materials clearly establish the role of Murari Babu, Executive Officer, Sabarimala; Unnikrishnan Potti, the sponsor for gold-plating the Dwarapalaka idols; Pankaj Bhandari, the proprietor of Smart Creations, Chennai, where the idols were taken for gold-plating; A. Ajikumar, member, TDB; Kandararu Rajeevaru, chief priest (Tantri) of Sabarimala; and Rejilal, Thiruvabharanam Commissioner of the TDB. The acts by the accused, acting in concert and pursuant to a premeditated criminal conspiracy, disclose the commission of offences including criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal conspiracy, punishable under Sections 316(2), 316(5), 336(2) and 61(2), read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Based on the findings in the interim report submitted by S. Sasidharan, the officer who is leading the SIT, a Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar observed that stringent action ought to be initiated under the BNSS. The team was asked to ensure that the final report is laid as expeditiously as possible (before the court).
Initial result of probe
The SIT probe reveals that the Dwarapalakas, which were originally clad with gold in 1998, were transported from Sabarimala to Chennai 2019 at Mr. Potti’s request. While granting permission for the same, the TDB officers, with malicious motive, deliberately described the coverings on Dwarapalakas as copper plates, concealing its true nature. This was to remove the gold from the Dwarapalakas and to plate a thin film of gold on them. The original gold cladding was removed at the private firm in Chennai, and only a minimal quantity of it was required for gold plating. The remaining gold that was extracted, was misappropriated by the accused, the report says.
‘False certification
Notwithstanding the inferior quality of the work carried out, a certificate was issued falsely certifying that the gold plating carried a 40-year warranty, to avoid any doubt. Within a few months, the gold plating deteriorated, exposing the underlying copper surface. Aimed at concealing the pilferage and the misappropriation of gold in 2019, the sponsor and the officials concerned entered into a criminal conspiracy to once again transport the Dwarapalakas to Chennai (in 2025), under the guise of carrying out fresh gold-plating, the SIT report says.
The High Court further took note of references in the report about the role that is being probed of Sundareshan, who was a member of TDB; Bindhu, board’s secretary; Mahesh Mohanararu, Tantri; Sunila, Thiruvabharanam Commissioner; O.G. Biju, executive officer; Sreenivas, administrative officer; Hemanth, assistant executive officer; Pandurangaiah Naga Govardhan, a Ballari-based jeweller; and V.S. Rajendra Prasad, who served as executive officer in 2020. The court directed the SIT to initiate action, if it had gathered materials about their involvement in the misappropriation. The matter has been posted for hearing on July 20.
Published – June 29, 2026 08:48 pm IST
