Earlier this month, the court had ordered registration of a case over the ‘missing’ gold, after the idols were sent to a firm in Chennai for electroplating by Unnikrishnan Potti, a businessman.
| Photo Credit: LEJU KAMAL
The special investigation team (SIT) probing alleged irregularities that led to reduction in the weight of gold-clad copper coverings of the Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala temple in 4.5 kg since 2019 submitted an interim report to the Kerala High Court on Tuesday (October 21, 2025).
The report was submitted in a sealed cover by S. Sasidharan, SP, to whom the High Court had entrusted the probe earlier this month. The case was heard in-camera by a Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar, with neither members of the public nor mediapersons allowed entry into the court.
Earlier this month, the court had ordered registration of a case over the ‘missing’ gold, after the idols were sent to a firm in Chennai for electroplating by Unnikrishnan Potti, a businessman. The order was passed soon after the Travancore Devaswom Board’s (TDB) Vigilance wing submitted a report. It also ordered forming an SIT to probe the matter and also the alleged irregularities in the gold-cladding works on the frames.
The SIT had inspected the house of Mr. Potti, the prime suspect in the case, to seize records and other evidence related to the ‘missing’ gold, on Saturday.
In a remand report filed before the magistrate court at Ranni, Pathanamtitta, on Friday, the SIT had accused Mr. Potti, apart from nine serving and retired TDB members, among others, of conspiracy, theft and illegal pecuniary gain, causing loss to the temple.
The SIT further noted that Mr. Potti, who had worked as an assistant to a priest at the temple from 2004 to 2008, was aware of the gilded coverings, donated by industrialist Vijay Mallya in 1998, having significant amount of gold.
Published – October 21, 2025 01:18 pm IST
