Sabarimala Gold Theft Investigation Reveals Elaborate Conspiracy Involving Temple Officials

The remand report reveals approximately 2 kg of gold was stolen from the sacred temple premises.

NDTV has obtained access to the nine-page remand report in the Sabarimala gold theft case, which exposes the extensive nature of the crime and indicates a widespread conspiracy. The document clearly establishes that Unnikrishnan Potti, the primary suspect, did not act independently. The theft was carefully orchestrated with collaboration from at least nine Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials in 2019.

Potti, who maintained close relationships with temple authorities, appeared before the first-class judicial magistrate court in Ranni, Kerala's Pathanamthitta district, at noon on Friday and was placed in police custody until October 30. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) requested custody to investigate the full extent of the theft, trace the path of the door panels associated with the Dwarapalaka idols from which gold was stolen, and determine the involvement of co-conspirators.

According to the court-submitted remand report, Potti pilfered nearly 2 kg of gold from the esteemed temple.

Investigators have determined this was not a case of negligent handling but a calculated scheme to accumulate personal wealth, raising serious concerns about the protection of temple treasures.

The report details how Potti displayed temple artifacts at various locations for financial benefit, disregarding centuries-old traditions and causing distress to devotees. When sponsors contributed new gold to replace what was stolen, Potti accepted these donations but instead of using them for their intended purpose, he kept the gold for himself.

The most damning section of the remand report implicates the 2019 Devaswom Board, led by A Padmakumar. It alleges that the board and nine senior officials enabled Potti to remove gold ornaments from the sanctum sanctorum, violating High Court directives and temple protocols.

Among those implicated, administrative officer Murari Babu and executive officer Sudheesh Kumar allegedly recorded the gold as copper in official registers to conceal the theft. Jayashree, then Devaswom secretary, is accused of manipulating board minutes to provide Potti unrestricted access to ornaments. Other officials allegedly participated by forging signatures on the Mahasar (authoritative temple record) and deliberately failing to verify ornament weights before and after plating.

Investigators contend this demonstrates collective responsibility for the crime. The remand report explicitly states that the Sabarimala theft was not perpetrated by a lone individual but was a conspiracy involving high-ranking officials responsible for safeguarding temple assets.

The SIT outlines three phases of Potti's fraudulent scheme. First, he allegedly transported the door panels to Smart Creations, a private facility, where most of the gold was extracted. Second, he returned only 394 grams of superficially plated gold to create the impression that the ornaments had been refurbished. Finally, he appropriated the remaining gold for personal gain.

The SIT characterizes it as a "robbery with joint responsibility," noting that multiple officials endorsed records, altered entries, or ignored evidence as the theft occurred.

The report emphasizes that the theft caused not only financial damage but also violated the spiritual sanctity of Sabarimala.

The investigation team has requested Potti's custody to further interrogate him about the utilization of the stolen gold, the amount that remains traceable, and whether additional individuals benefited. The SIT has also recommended a comprehensive investigation into the role of Devaswom Board members who allegedly facilitated the crime.