The Crime Branch in Kerala has registered two cases concerning the alleged theft of gold from the Sabarimala temple, implicating ten individuals, including Unnikrishnan Potty, who is named as the first accused. The charges include theft, conspiracy, breach of trust, and falsification of documents, in addition to offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Kerala High Court has acknowledged the Sabarimala gold theft and instructed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to submit a report within six weeks. This directive follows revelations that over 474.9 grams of gold went missing during the restoration of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols in 2019. The court has directed the state police to register a criminal case regarding the misappropriation of gold from the shrine's side frames or lintels. The SIT will submit its findings in a sealed cover directly to the court.

The accused include administrative officer Murari Babu, who is currently suspended for allegedly falsifying records to indicate that gold sheets were copper. Former Devaswom secretary, Thiruvabharanam commissioner, and executive officers are also among those charged. Officials from Chennai's Smart Creations, where the gold plating was carried out, may face charges later.

The investigation has revealed that the gold plating from the Dwarapalaka sculptures was stolen in March 2019, and gold from the sanctum's door frames was stolen in August 2019. Separate FIRs have been registered because different officials signed the records for the two incidents. The cases have been filed at the Crime Branch headquarters and will be handed over to the Special Investigation Team, with the probe being supervised by Crime Branch chief H. Venkatesh.

The High Court's intervention occurred while addressing a suo motu petition based on a special commissioner's report. The report highlighted that the gold-plated copper covering of the Dwarapalaka idols and the peedam were removed for renovation without prior intimation. The court also noted discrepancies in past transactions, including a prior incident where approximately 4.5 kilograms of gold allegedly disappeared during plating and transport to Chennai.

The Vigilance inquiry revealed discrepancies, including a significant difference between the gold dispatched and the quantity that arrived in Chennai for plating, along with a 39-day delay in transportation. Suspicion was further heightened by the discovery of a missing pedestal from a gold-plated sculpture at the residence of Potti's sister.

VD Satheesan described the situation as serious, stating that the gold loss extended beyond the Dwarapalaka sculptures to include the shrine's doors and other areas. He noted the court's revelations that the original Dwarapalaka sculptures were allegedly sold and replaced with fake copper plates that were gold-plated and sent to Chennai.

The court has demanded answers regarding the quantity of gold used in 1999 and 2019 for plating, as well as the quantity proposed for the works in 2025. It has also requested records regarding the recovery and reuse of the gold and details about a second set of Dwarapalakas and Peedams in the temple's strong room.