Thiruvananthapuram4 minutes ago
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The vigilance team of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has submitted the final report to the court in the matter of finding less weight of gold from the gatekeeper idols of Sabarimala temple. The report said that Bengaluru businessman Unnikrishnan Potti, who sponsors the gold plating work, does not have any permanent source of income.
In the initial investigation, Potti’s income tax returns from 2017 to 2025 were also examined. On the basis of this report, the (SIT) formed on the instructions of the Kerala High Court is investigating. The report said that in 2025-26, Rs 10.85 lakh was deposited in Potti’s bank account from Kamakshi Enterprises. Those who are registered in other social or community service categories.
Investigation revealed that the repair and gold plating work of the sanctum sanctorum door, which was sponsored by Potti, was actually funded by Ballari businessman Govardhanan. Similarly, the work of gold plating on the door frame of the sanctum sanctorum was also sponsored by Bengaluru businessman Ajit Kumar.
Potti also made many donations to the temple. In January 2025, he sponsored various pujas and decoration work on both sides of the 18 stairs of the temple. He gave Rs 10 lakh for the lift for Annadan Mandap and Rs 6 lakh for Annadan (free food service). Earlier in 2017, he had donated Rs 8.2 lakh along with 17 tonnes of rice and 30 tonnes of vegetables to the temple.
TDB decided to take action against officials
The vigilance wing of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to take action against 9 officials in the gold theft case in Sabarimala temple.
TDB President PS Prasanth said on Saturday that action has already been initiated against Deputy Devaswom Commissioner B Murari Babu. The decision on other officers will be taken in the board meeting to be held on October 14.
He said those against whom action will be taken include TDB Secretary Jayashree, Executive Officer Sudish, Administrative Officer Sreekumar and former Thiruvabharanam Commissioner KS Baiju.
Prasanth said that the officer who succeeded Baiju was aware of the reduction in the weight of the gold, but did not report it.
This statement of TDB Chairman came after the Kerala High Court’s decision to constitute SIT. This SIT will investigate the case of shortage of 4 kg of gold in the gatekeeper idols in Sabarimala temple.
Prashant said – Opposition leader should give statement responsibly
TDB President Prasanth said- Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan should give responsible statements. The present board has nothing to do with this issue, yet why are allegations being leveled against us.
He said that preparations are currently going on for the Sabarimala pilgrimage season. Around 60 lakh devotees are expected to come this year. Such allegations only affect those who are working to organize the Sabarimala season.
Congress’s KC Venugopal said – Kerala government is hiding the case, CBI should investigate.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Saturday said that Sabarimala is a holy temple for the people of the country. The incident of gold theft shows that the government is suppressing the matter.
At the same time, TDB Minister VN Vasavan said- It is necessary to expose all the people responsible in this case. No criminal will escape justice. The government has full faith in the judiciary. Whatever has happened is nothing less than theft.
BJP leader V. Muraleedharan said- dissolve TDB
BJP leader V. Muraleedharan said that the state government was betraying the devotees. They demanded the dissolution of the TDB as well as the immediate dismissal of the Devaswom minister.
On Friday, the court had given instructions to constitute SIT.
The Kerala High Court on Friday said that from the investigation so far it appears that gold has been misappropriated from the two idols (gatekeepers) kept at the gate of Sabarimala temple. The court directed to register a criminal case in the matter and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to start investigation.
A bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and KV Jayakumar also directed the SIT to file the investigation report within six weeks and submit the status report of the investigation once every two weeks. The court said that no information related to the investigation should be leaked.
The bench further said that investigation so far has revealed that a large quantity of gold was entrusted to Unnikrishnan Potti (the sponsor offering gold plating). The court said that approximately 474.9 grams of gold was given to Potti.
Unnikrishnan had asked for the remaining gold for a girl’s marriage.
In the last hearing on October 6, the High Court had constituted SIT to investigate the case of theft of gold from the idols of Dwarpalak. The court also referred to the email of Unnikrishnan Potti, which he had sent to the Chairman of TDB on December 9, 2019.
Unnikrishnan had written in the email – I have some gold left after coating the main gate of Sabarimala sanctum and the idols of the gatekeepers. I want to collaborate with TDB to use it for the marriage of a girl who needs help. Please give your opinion in this regard.
High Court said- TDB official also involved in misappropriation The court said that the idols handed over to Unnikrishnan for gold plating in 2019 did not merely have copper plates, but had been gold plated in 1999. Due to this revelation, a case of theft has been made.
The court said-
This revelation is disturbing. This shows that even the TDB official Unnikrishnan Are mixed with. In the whole matter only Unnikrishnan And not Smart Creations company but TDB officials are also responsible. Records clearly show that TDB officials were aware of the transactions and illegal transfer of gold.
The gold plate below this gatekeeper statue had gone missing.
TDB suspends commissioner B Murari The TDB of Sabarimala temple on Tuesday suspended Haripad Deputy Devaswom Commissioner B Murari Babu pending investigation. According to the board, Babu had submitted a report to the Sabarimala Executive Officer on July 17, 2019. In this he had wrongly described the gold statues installed on both sides of the entrance of the temple as copper. The board considered this a serious mistake.
On the other hand, Babu denied the allegations. Babu claimed that in 2019 he had given a preliminary report after taking the opinion of the temple tantri. In the report it was written as copper plate because in reality copper was clearly visible. Therefore instructions were given to offer gold.
High Court had reprimanded TDB on 29 September
The Division Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar came down heavily on TDB during the hearing in the case on September 29. Said that the board did not maintain proper register of valuables of the temple, which helped in hiding the irregularities.
The court said that records of jewelery and coins offered by devotees are maintained in a register, in which description, date, receipt and quality are written, but there is no record of other things like Kodimaram, Dwarapalaka idols, Peedam.
The court noted that there was no entry of giving these goods to anyone. While reinstalling the Dwarapalaka idols, their weight was also not recorded, which was done deliberately so that the shortage of 4 kg of gold would not be revealed.
Registers for gold plating on roof also missing
The court said that the register of the work of applying gold layer on the roof of Srikovil in 1999 is also missing. According to the artisans, more than 30 kg of gold was used then, but there is no official record.
The court directed that a complete inventory and evaluation of all the valuables of the temple should be done with the help of experts. The negligence of Devaswom Board officials should also be investigated. The next hearing of the case will now take place at the end of October.
