News Brief
Arun Dhital
Oct 21, 2025, 04:29 PM | Updated 04:29 PM IST
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The special investigation team (SIT) probing the alleged irregularities in the gold plating of the Sabarimala temple idols submitted its interim report to the Kerala High Court on Tuesday (21 October), The Hindu reported.
The case concerns the reported reduction of about 4.5 kg in the gold-clad copper coverings of the temple’s Dwarapalaka idols since 2019.
The report, presented in a sealed cover, was submitted by Superintendent of Police S. Sasidharan, who was assigned the investigation earlier this month.
The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar heard the case in-camera, with no public or media access permitted.
Earlier this month, the High Court had directed the registration of a case over the ‘missing’ gold after the idols were sent to a Chennai-based firm for electroplating by businessman Unnikrishnan Potti.
The order followed a report from the Travancore Devaswom Board’s (TDB) Vigilance wing, which flagged irregularities in the gold cladding of the idols and frames. The court also ordered the formation of a special investigation team to probe the matter.
On Saturday (18 October), the SIT inspected Potti’s residence to seize records and evidence related to the missing gold.
In a remand report filed before the Ranni Magistrate Court in Pathanamthitta on Friday, the SIT accused Potti and nine serving and retired TDB officials of “conspiracy, theft and illegal pecuniary gain,” resulting in financial loss to the temple.
The investigation has revealed that Potti, who served as an assistant to a priest at Sabarimala between 2004 and 2008, was aware that the gilded coverings, originally donated by industrialist Vijay Mallya in 1998, contained a significant quantity of gold.
The next hearing is expected to review the findings of the interim report and decide on further directions for the investigation.
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