Thiruvanathapuram, 29 June (H.S.):

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged Sabarimala gold plating scam has named former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President P.S. Prasanth as an accused, submitting before the Kerala High Court that it has gathered evidence linking him to the controversial removal and transportation of gold-plated temple components in 2025.

According to the SIT report, the late former Sabarimala Executive Officer Murari Babu has been listed as the first accused in the case. Others named in the charges include former TDB President P.S. Prasanth, Sabarimala Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, sponsor Unnikrishnan Potti, Pankaj Bhandari, owner of Chennai-based Smart Creations, TDB member Advocate A. Ajikumar, and Thiruvabharanam Commissioner Rajilal.

The investigation has concluded that the decision to remove and re-gold-plate the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols in 2025 was allegedly intended to conceal large-scale irregularities in the original gold plating work carried out in 2019. The SIT told the High Court that the idols were deliberately dismantled and sent for fresh gold plating to prevent the earlier alleged financial irregularities from coming to light.

The probe further found that the alleged criminal conspiracy began in 2023, shortly after the new Travancore Devaswom Board assumed office. Investigators claim that efforts to facilitate the transfer of the idols were initiated by sponsor Unnikrishnan Potti and that the transportation of the idols to Smart Creations in Chennai was part of a pre-planned operation.

The SIT also alleged that the Board's governing body, headed by P.S. Prasanth, knowingly approved the removal of the idols despite being aware that such an action violated the Travancore Devaswom Board Manual. The report states that both the Board and the Thantri were fully aware that the established rules governing temple idols were being breached, yet permitted the process to proceed.

The SIT has informed the High Court that its investigation points to a deliberate conspiracy involving multiple officials and private individuals, with the alleged objective of suppressing evidence of the earlier gold plating irregularities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman