Former Sabarimala Official Arrested in Major Temple Gold Theft Investigation: Fourth Arrest Reveals New Developments

The Kerala High Court's directive for further investigation led to this arrest just one day later.

Kochi:

On Thursday night, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the Sabarimala gold plating theft case arrested KS Byju, a former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) employee, making him the fourth person to be apprehended in this investigation.

This arrest provides a significant connection in the ongoing investigation into gold that disappeared during the plating process at Sabarimala temple in 2019.

As the seventh accused in this case, Byju held an official position of responsibility at that time, serving as custodian for the gold plates that were sent to Smart Creations, a private firm in Chennai, for re-plating work.

Investigators have now discovered that Byju was on leave the day the gold plates were transported from the temple to Chennai, raising significant concerns about procedural protections and oversight during this critical transfer.

His arrest follows the Kerala High Court's examination of the SIT's second-stage report and subsequent directive for continued investigation into the case.

The court emphasized that the investigation must clearly establish accountability and identify any negligence by officials in handling the temple's gold.

According to sources, the SIT plans to approach the Ranni Magistrate Court on Friday requesting custody of two accused individuals currently in judicial remand, to conduct a joint interrogation with Byju.

The individuals already arrested include 'sponsor' Unnikrishnan Potti (primary accused), current TDB employee Murari Babu, and former TDB employee Sudheesh Kumar.

Investigators believe that questioning Byju alongside Babu and Kumar could help establish the chronological events that led to the gold's disappearance during the re-plating process.

The SIT suspects that genuine gold sheets covering parts of the sanctum were substituted with portions of the original gold that was allegedly diverted either during transit or during the re-plating work.

Byju's role as custodian of the temple's valuable assets and his absence on the day the gold plates were transferred have become key areas of investigation.

The SIT is determining whether his actions constituted deliberate negligence or involvement in the alleged theft.

This case has sparked widespread public concern, resulting in judicial monitoring, while Congress and BJP continue to demand an investigation by a central agency.