Kochi ,13 June (H.S.) :Murari Babu, former Administrative Officer of the Sabarimala temple and an accused in the controversial Sabarimala gold theft case, died early on Saturday while undergoing treatment for cancer at a private hospital in Kochi. He was 54. He had been receiving treatment for the past three months after being diagnosed with the disease.

Murari Babu had secured bail in the case a few months ago and was the first accused to be released from custody. The Kollam Vigilance Court granted him statutory bail after he spent 90 days in judicial custody. He was an accused in the cases related to the alleged theft of gold-plated sheets from the temple's Dwarapalaka sculptures and the sacred door panels.

Investigators had named him the second accused in the case. According to the Special Investigation Team, Murari Babu was the first official to prepare records stating that the missing gold-plated sheets were made of copper, a development that allegedly facilitated the diversion of the gold. During the investigation, he reportedly maintained that no decision could be implemented solely on the basis of his records and that approvals from senior Travancore Devaswom Board authorities were required for any such action.

Born into a modest family in Changanassery, Murari Babu's father ran a small shop at Perunna. Before joining the Travancore Devaswom Board, he briefly served in the police force after being selected as a constable in 1994 and undergoing training in Kannur. However, he did not complete the training and joined the Devaswom Board in 1997.

He began his career as an assistant to a senior Devaswom Board official and later secured a permanent posting as a clerk at the Ettumanoor temple. Over the years, he served as Special Officer during major temple festivals at Vaikom, Ettumanoor and Thirunakkara.

His arrest in connection with the alleged 2019 Sabarimala gold theft case brought his long career in temple administration under intense scrutiny.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman