Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday sought a scientific probe into the Sabarimala temple gold robbery case under the pretext of making over the artefacts, media reports said.
During the in-camera hearing, the division bench directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine whether Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) are fit to be booked under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1980.
The Dewaswom bench observed the materials showed that there was a systematic and deliberate misappropriation of temple assets under the pretext of makeover.
The court was angered over discrepancies in the Minutes book of the TDB. The Court termed this omission a matter of “serious gravity,” and violation in the Board’s decision-making process.
The Court observed that materials indicate that substantial quantities of gold were allegedly removed from the originally gold-cladded artefacts.
The Court asked why TDB breached the laid down norms to allow Unnikrishnan Potti to undertake repair works. The Court frowned over the TDB giving Potti the freedom to take up maintenance of the main door even without the involvement of TDB’s Public Works Department.
The Court also found that despite explicit directions prohibiting the removal of sacred artefacts without court permission, the Board once again authorized the transport of dwarapalakas to Chennai in late 2024 and 2025.
The Court directed the SIT to widen its probe covering the Sreekovil main door works in 2018–2019, and September 2025 decisions of the Board. The matter has been posted after three weeks for further consideration of the SIT’s progress.
TDB’s actions shock High Court
