Thiruvananthapuram, 21 April (H.S.):The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold misappropriation case has once again questioned former Travancore Devaswom Board president P.S. Prashanth, marking the third round of interrogation in connection with the case.
According to officials, the latest questioning is part of an intensified probe into alleged irregularities linked to the 2025 gold plating work carried out at the Sabarimala temple. SIT sources said that Ajikumar, a former board member who served alongside Prashanth, was also examined recently, with investigators recording his statement to corroborate earlier findings.
The investigation, which had seen limited movement over the past one-and-a-half months, has now regained momentum. Earlier, Prashanth had been questioned twice and released, but fresh leads and inconsistencies in statements have prompted investigators to summon him again. The probe primarily focuses on suspected discrepancies in the gold plating of temple structures, including the Dwarapalaka idols.
Officials noted that the gold sheets used for replating were transported on September 8, 2025. Statements have also been collected from key personnel, including the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner and other officials who were on duty at Sabarimala during the period. Investigators believe that these testimonies could play a crucial role in establishing whether any procedural violations or misappropriation occurred.
Meanwhile, all accused persons who were earlier arrested in connection with the case are currently out on bail. Notably, the SIT has yet to file a chargesheet in two cases where gold theft has been confirmed. This delay enabled key accused, including prime suspect Unnikrishnan Potti and former Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar, along with N. Vasu, to secure statutory bail.
There is still no clarity on when the SIT will submit its chargesheet, raising concerns over delays in the high-profile investigation.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
