Temple Ex-Official Arrested As Probe Continues In Sabarimala Gold Theft Case
KOCHI: A former official from the Sabarimala temple has been arrested as investigations deepen into the alleged theft of gold from the temple's sacred structures. The arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing probe concerning the misappropriation of gold used for plating the Dwarapalaka idols and door frames at the revered Ayyappa temple.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Kerala High Court, is currently investigating the case. The court has directed the SIT to conduct a thorough, transparent, and swift investigation, emphasizing that the alleged theft was not an isolated incident but potentially part of a larger conspiracy. The court has also taken the step of holding in-camera proceedings to ensure utmost confidentiality during the probe.
The investigation gained momentum following the arrest of Unnikrishnan Potti, a Bengaluru-based businessman who sponsored the electroplating of the temple's gold plates. Potti is considered the prime accused in the case. The SIT has also questioned Potti's associate, Anantha Subramanian, who is suspected of receiving the gold plates from Sannidhanam in 2019 and handing them over to another individual in Hyderabad on Potti's instructions.
According to reports, the Travancore Devaswom Board's (TDB) minutes book from 2019, which contained the decision to hand over the gold sheets and plating materials to Unnikrishnan Potti, has been seized by the SIT. The SIT suggests that board members and employees acted on behalf of certain individuals and that manipulation is evident in official records. The board has been accused of initially hesitating to hand over these records, producing them only after repeated requests.
The Kerala High Court has expressed concerns that the attempted cover-up of the 2019 gold loss appeared deliberate and questioned why this year's gold-plating work was entrusted to the same sponsor, Unnikrishnan Potti. The court has instructed the SIT to broaden the investigation beyond the misappropriation involving the Dwarapalaka panels and side panels to uncover any broader conspiracy.
Amid the ongoing investigation at Sabarimala Temple, allegations of financial irregularities have surfaced at the Guruvayur temple, prompting calls for a central agency probe. BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar has alleged that "loot" is happening in Guruvayur and has requested a probe by a central agency.
The Sabarimala gold theft case has evolved into a significant political and religious controversy in Kerala. The issue has led to demands for a CBI probe, protests, and sharp exchanges between the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the state government, and the opposition. A delegation of Kerala BJP leaders recently met with President Droupadi Murmu to discuss the matter, presenting a replica of the Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The BJP leaders are calling for the resignation of the Devaswom Minister and the dissolution of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
The High Court has observed that the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, was likely not acting alone, suggesting the involvement of "big forces" behind the theft. The court has stressed the need to uncover the larger network involved. The SIT submitted an interim report in a sealed cover to the High Court on Tuesday. The case is scheduled to be heard again next month.
