Kerala High Court has ordered an SIT probe into the Sabarimala gold loss row, appointing ADGP H Venkatesh to lead the investigation. The case involves alleged missing gold from the ‘Dwarapalaka idols’ at the famous temple.
The Kerala High Court mandated a court-monitored investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into claims of gold loss from the gold-plated copper plates that cover the ‘Dwarapalaka idols’ (door guardians) at the Sabarimala temple.
A Division Bench consisting of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar appointed Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H Venkatesh to lead the SIT.
The Court’s order stated,
“We are of the view that a special team of officers of highest integrity are required to probe into this matter. Sri H Venkatesh IPS, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Law & Order in the Kerala Police can be appointed as head of special investigation team, to investigate all aspects of the matter,”
This decision came after it was disclosed that the individual responsible for the gold plating had emailed the President of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) inquiring whether he could use some leftover gold from the project for a wedding.
The Court initiated the suo motu case following concerns about the potential loss of gold after the gold-plated copper coverings of the ‘Dwarapalaka Idols’ were sent for repairs without notifying the Court or the Special Commissioner at Sabarimala.
The TDB had removed the coverings and assigned the repair work to ‘Smart Creations,’ a firm based in Chennai, under the sponsorship of devotee Unnikrishnan Potti.
The Court expressed concern over reports indicating that items weighing 42.8 kg were given to Potti for delivery to Smart Creations, but the firm recorded only about 38 kg. This discrepancy of approximately 4.54 kg raised serious alarms for the Court.
Earlier, On September 17, the Court ordered an investigation, which revealed through a Chief Vigilance officer’s report that some gold-plated pedhams were found concealed at the home of Mini, Unnikrishnan Potti’s sister, and were seized during a search by the vigilance team.
The Court found this information troubling, especially since there were no corresponding entries in TDB records or mahazars to indicate that such items had been formally entrusted to Potti.
Additionally, the vigilance report pointed out significant discrepancies in TDB records, including missing entries in the Thiruvabharanam diary and inconsistencies in the documentation of gold ornaments offered by devotees, as well as missing records related to the removal of valuables for repair.
Highlighting the inaccuracy in TDB records, the Court requested former High Court judge Justice KT Sankaran to supervise a comprehensive inventory of all valuables at the Sabarimala temple.
In today’s proceedings, the Court learned that Unnikrishnan Potti had emailed the TDB President to inform him that he had some gold-cladded plates after completing the repairs. In this email, Potti allegedly asked if he could use the gold for a girl’s marriage.
The Court has now ordered the SIT investigation, noting that various penal offenses appear to have occurred in this case and indicating that the alleged conspiracy extends beyond Potti to involve officials who mishandled the gold in violation of established norms.
Senior government pleader S Rajmohan represented the State, while standing counsel G Biju represented the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Advocate Sayujya Radhakrishnan acted as an amicus curiae for the Sabarimala Special Commissioner, and advocates R Sudhish and M Manju represented Unnikrishnan Potti.