The Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Kerala High Court is considering moving the High Court against the Kollam vigilance court’s order granting bail to Sabarimala tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru in the gold theft case.

Sources indicated that the SIT has sought legal opinion and a final decision on filing an appeal is expected within two days. Investigators are understood to be concerned that the vigilance court’s observations could adversely affect the ongoing probe.

According to sources familiar with the SIT’s assessment, the vigilance court, while dealing with a bail application, went into the merits of the case. They maintained that since the SIT was responding only to the bail plea, it had not placed the entire body of evidence before the court and that several issues commented upon were matters to be examined during trial.

Rajeevaru was granted bail in two cases relating to the alleged theft of gold from the temple door frames and dwarapalaka idols on February 18, the 41st day of his custody. The vigilance court had observed that the investigators had failed to produce “an iota of evidence” and could not establish any prima facie material linking the tantri to the alleged conspiracy.

The court’s remarks have put the state government under pressure, with Opposition parties questioning the basis of the arrest.

In his bail plea, Rajeevaru had contended that he was being targeted for opposing the entry of women into the Sabarimala shrine, a claim that triggered fresh political criticism of the CPI(M)-led government.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that the arrest should be viewed as a political conspiracy and alleged that it was intended to prevent the investigation from reaching former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran and current minister V. N. Vasavan.

Responding to the controversy, Law Minister P Rajeeve said the vigilance court order contained unusual features. He remarked that the nature of the order resembled that of a Supreme Court judgment and described the vigilance court’s order as abnormal.

Source: The New Indian Express

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The post ‘No Iota Of Evidence’: Kollam Vigilance Court Grants Bail To Sabarimala Tantri In Gold Theft Case appeared first on The Commune.

A DMK Students’ Wing functionary from Tamil Nadu has been arrested by Kerala Police in connection with a gold theft case involving 55 sovereigns of jewellery.

According to police sources, the theft took place at the residence of a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) in Pandalam, Kerala. Following an investigation into the burglary, Kerala Police identified and arrested Ramesh, a native of Thirukurungudi in Tirunelveli district.

Ramesh is reported to be serving as the DMK Students’ Wing Town Panchayat Secretary of the Thirukurungudi Town Panchayat area.

Investigators said the accused had allegedly travelled to Kerala and was involved in the theft of approximately 55 sovereigns of gold jewellery from the NRI’s house. Further inquiries are underway to establish the sequence of events and identify any possible accomplices linked to the case.

Sources also indicated that Ramesh had previously worked in close proximity to local party functionaries in Tirunelveli district.

The arrest has drawn political attention in Tamil Nadu after state BJP president K Annamalai shared details of the case on his X handle, highlighting the Kerala Police action and referring to the accused’s political affiliation.

He wrote, “Ramesh, the DMK Students’ Wing Secretary of Tirukurungudi Town Panchayat area in Tirunelveli district, has been arrested by Kerala Police in connection with a case involving the theft of 55 sovereigns of gold jewellery from the house of a Non-Resident Indian in the Pandalam area of Kerala.

Ramesh is also known to have served as an assistant to Tirunelveli East DMK District Secretary Graham Bell and is said to be a person close to Tirunelveli district’s in-charge minister, KN Nehru.

Allegations have been raised that DMK members, not content with “looting Tamil Nadu,” have now begun carrying out thefts in the neighbouring state of Kerala as well. It remains to be seen, through the ongoing investigation by Kerala Police, in how many more states Ramesh and other DMK functionaries may have “established the Dravidian model.”

நெல்லை மாவட்டம் திருக்குறுங்குடி பேரூராட்சி பகுதி திமுக மாணவர் அணி செயலாளர் ரமேஷ், கேரள மாநிலம் பந்தளம் பகுதியில் வெளிநாடு வாழ் இந்தியர் ஒருவர் வீட்டில் 55 பவுன் நகை கொள்ளையடித்த வழக்கில், கேரள மாநில காவல்துறையினரால் கைது செய்யப்பட்டிருக்கிறார்.

நெல்லை கிழக்கு திமுக மாவட்ட… pic.twitter.com/aDqCdSpb6q

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) February 12, 2026

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Pankaj Bhandari, owner of Smart Creations, Chennai, and the ninth accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, has informed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) about the involvement of a specialist from Maharashtra in the unauthorised extraction of gold from temple fittings and idols at the Sabarimala temple.

According to a statement given by Bhandari to the SIT on 9 October 2025, a copy of which was annexed to documents submitted before the High Court by the probe team, he stated that in 2019, his firm had engaged a specialist from Maharashtra who was experienced in recovering gold from stripping solutions. Bhandari told investigators that he would provide the specialist’s details to the SIT.

Bhandari stated that Smart Creations specialised in temple-related works and that he had known Unnikrishnan Potty, the first accused in the case, since 2019. His statement indicated that Potty had repeatedly approached him for gold-plating works connected to Sabarimala. In 2019, Smart Creations undertook the gold-plating work for the sanctum sanctorum door, with the donor being Govardhan Roddom, a jeweller from Bellary, who had introduced Bhandari to Potty.

According to Bhandari, Potty later informed him that while the sanctum sanctorum door appeared brightly gold-plated, the side frames were less bright, and the top Lord Shiva plate appeared dull and dirty. Following this, seven components including Shiva plates and side frames were transported to Chennai for further work.

Bhandari stated that upon examination, his team noticed that the seven pieces were not newly fabricated copper but appeared to be old copper sheets with a gold coating. He informed Potty that fresh gold plating could not be carried out over sheets that were already gold-cladded. However, Potty allegedly insisted that he had full authorisation from the concerned officials and directed the firm to proceed immediately with the work.

As per Bhandari’s statement, Smart Creations was instructed to remove the existing gold from the seven plates and strip the gold from the sheets using a chemical stripping solution, which dissolves gold. Bhandari admitted that his firm did not have expertise in recovering gold from stripping solutions and that engaging a third-party specialist was necessary, as attempting such recovery in-house would result in quality issues and confusion.

The statement further noted that Govardhan, the tenth accused in the case, had provided 186.587 grams of gold for the gold-plating work. Bhandari’s team deposited 184 grams of gold and completed delivery of the seven plates in June 2019. He subsequently informed Potty that gold had been issued for the frames and Shiva plates and that any additional recoverable gold would be assessed after extraction from the stripping solution by the specialist.

Bhandari stated that his firm later received 14 idol components for cleaning. During cleaning using a soap solution, traces of gold were observed on the copper sheets. He informed Potty that these too were old gold-plated sheets and could not be directly replated. Despite this, Potty allegedly insisted that the repair and stripping work be carried out without delay.

Potty also instructed Bhandari not to procure additional gold, stating that sufficient gold was available from the old stripping solution and leftover gold recovered from the Dwarapalaka idols.

After the cleaning and processing work was completed, Bhandari informed Potty that the final gold balance would be calculated after the recovery process. All 14 items were delivered back to Sabarimala in September 2019.

According to the SIT, the gold recovery specialist from Maharashtra extracted 409 grams of gold from the side frames and 577 grams from the idols. As per Potty’s instructions, 393.9 grams were deducted for gold plating of the Dwarapalaka idols and 9.9 grams were allocated for other Sabarimala-related items. After using 404.8 grams of gold for gold plating, a balance of 584.2 grams was handed over to Unnikrishnan Potty.

In its submission to the court, the SIT stated that Govardhan Roddom, along with Pankaj Bhandari, Unnikrishnan Potty and other accused persons, had entered into a criminal conspiracy to misappropriate the gold cladding on copper plates depicting the Dasavatharas, zodiac symbols, the top portions of the door frames and the Prabhamandalam installed in and around the sanctum sanctorum of the Sabarimala temple.

The SIT has placed these details before the High Court as part of its continuing investigation into the alleged large-scale misappropriation of temple gold.

Source: OnManorama

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The post Sabarimala Gold Theft Case: SIT Flags Chennai Firm’s Role, Maharashtra Specialist In Gold Extraction appeared first on The Commune.

The Thiruvananthapuram Cyber Police on 17 December 2025 registered a case against four individuals in connection with the creation and circulation of a parody song titled ‘Pottiye Kettiye’, which refers to the alleged gold theft at the Sabarimala temple.

Set to the tune of the popular Ayyappa devotional song ‘Swamiye Ayyappo’, the parody gained widespread attention during the recently concluded local body elections after being used by the Congress (UDF) party in its campaign against the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). The song’s circulation sparked controversy, with allegations that it distorted a sacred devotional composition and hurt religious sentiments.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the song was disseminated through online platforms, including YouTube, and was also circulated directly among members of the public and religious groups on or before 16 December 2025. The police stated that the act was carried out “with deliberate intent and prior knowledge” to insult religious sentiments, undermine faith, provoke religious emotions and incite disharmony.

The FIR named Kunjabdulla Chalappuram as the first accused, alleging that he created and released the parody beginning with the words ‘Pottiye Kettiye’ in a manner that insulted Ayyappa devotional songs and the sacred Sharana mantra. The police further stated that the content was intended to foster hatred among believers, disrupt communal harmony and disturb public peace.

The second accused, Danish Malappuram, rendered the song, while the third and fourth accused were responsible for filming and production. According to the police, all four jointly propagated the song through internet-based platforms.

Investigators said the track was produced by a Malappuram-based duo, Subair Pandalloor and Haneefa Mudikkode, as a promotional project for their studio. The lyrics were written by Kunjabdulla Chalappuram, also known as GP Chalappuram, and the song was sung by Danish Malappuram.

The complaint leading to the registration of the case was filed with State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar by Prasanth Kuzhikala, general secretary of the Thiruvabharanapatha Samrakshana Samithi. In his complaint, Kuzhikala alleged that the parody mutilated a sacred Ayyappa devotional composition and misused religious content for political purposes. He contended that linking Lord Ayyappa with an election campaign song amounted to an affront to faith and caused emotional distress to devotees.

The song gained wide circulation across Kerala and among Malayali communities abroad during the election campaign. United Democratic Front (UDF) Members of Parliament also used the song during a protest outside Parliament, demanding a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged Sabarimala gold smuggling case.

According to the FIR, the lyrics of the song refer to the alleged gold theft at Sabarimala, claiming that Unnikrishnan Potti, who is currently in judicial custody, was brought to the shrine to convert gold into copper, and that gold and money belonging to the deity were stolen by “comrades.”

Further investigation is underway.

Source: OnManorama

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The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Kerala High Court to probe the Sabarimala gold theft case arrested prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti early Friday (17 October 2025) morning after an 11-hour interrogation. The arrest marks the first major breakthrough in the case concerning the theft of gold used in the plating of sacred idols and fixtures at the Sabarimala temple.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, has been arrested after over ten hours of questioning by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The arrest was officially recorded at 2:30 a.m. on Friday. Unnikrishnan… pic.twitter.com/AMqUBpLric

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2025

The SIT team, led by Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch, CU-4) Bijoy P, questioned Potti extensively at Thiruvananthapuram. Around 1 AM, S. Sasidharan, Assistant Director (Administration), Kerala Police Academy, who is investigating the case under ADGP, Crime Branch, arrived from Sabarimala and recorded the formal arrest. Following the procedure, Potti was taken to the Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital for a medical examination.

Officials confirmed that all remand formalities have been completed, and Potti will be produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Ranni, where the SIT will seek his custody for further interrogation. The team has been directed by the High Court not to disclose any investigation details to the public or media without the Court’s permission until the probe concludes.

Allegations and FIR Details

Potti has been booked in two separate cases, both linked to the theft and misappropriation of gold from the dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the kattilappadi (threshold) of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) at Sabarimala. He is accused of colluding with officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to siphon off gold that had been used for temple plating works.

According to SIT records, Potti allegedly detached gold-plated panels from the temple’s door frames, misrepresenting them as copper plates and securing official approval for their removal. The two FIRs registered in the case name ten accused, including all members of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) of 2019 as the eighth accused collectively. Other officials booked include the then Devaswom Commissioner N. Vasu, Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, Executive Officer, Administrative Officer, and Assistant Engineer.

Findings from the Devaswom Vigilance Probe

The SIT’s findings are consistent with a report earlier submitted by the Devaswom Vigilance Department. The report stated that in August 2019, 14 pieces of gold-clad copper plates from the dwarapalaka idols were handed over to Smart Creations, a private firm, by Potti. He instructed the firm to use previously extracted gold and any leftover material from earlier works.

In September 2019, Smart Creations reportedly returned 14 gold-plated copper plates to Potti, along with a gold certificate for 394.9 grams. However, a recovery specialist later extracted 409 grams of gold from the side frame initially handed over and 577 grams from the dwarapalakas and other related items, totalling 989 grams. This amount included three grams supplied personally by Potti.

Of the total, 393.9 grams were deducted for plating the dwarapalakas and 9.9 grams for other Sabarimala temple items, accounting for 404.8 grams used in total. The remaining 474.9 grams of gold were handed over to Kalpesh, a middleman authorized by Potti. Investigation records do not show that this gold was ever returned to the TDB.

Wider Conspiracy and Missing Records

The SIT has not ruled out the involvement of Smart Creations in the larger conspiracy. Some crucial records of the firm’s gold plating work are reportedly missing. A Hyderabad-based individual has also been indicated as having played a role in the chain of misappropriation.

During interrogation, Potti is said to have admitted that the gold robbery was planned and claimed that certain Devaswom Board officials were aware of the scheme. He allegedly stated that the stolen gold was distributed among members of the Board. The SIT is currently tracing Kalpesh and another suspect, Nagesh, both of whom are absconding.

Ongoing Investigation and Court Oversight

The SIT conducted another inspection at Sannidhanam on Thursday to collect further evidence and re-measure the walls of the sanctum sanctorum. Meanwhile, the Travancore Devaswom Board has suspended two officials, identified as Murari Babu and Sunilkumar, in connection with the case.

Potti’s family alleged that they were not informed of his whereabouts after he was taken into custody, prompting his lawyer to accuse the SIT of violating custody procedures. Following media attention later in the evening, Crime Branch officials formally communicated the details of the arrest to his family.

Earlier, the Kerala High Court had directed the SIT to register a case and conduct a comprehensive probe into the theft of 475 grams of gold from the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar ordered an impartial investigation and instructed the SIT to submit its report within six weeks. The progress report is expected to be presented to the High Court in a sealed cover next week.

(Source: OnManorama)

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A vigilance report submitted before the Kerala High Court has uncovered another instance of gold misappropriation in Sabarimala, this time linked to the gold plating of the side frames and lintel of the sanctum sanctorum. The findings point to a pattern of irregularities similar to the earlier fraud involving the gold-plated Dwarapalaka idols.

The High Court, while reviewing the report filed by the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (Superintendent of Police), noted that although the initial investigation focused on the Dwarapalakas, the evidence now points to serious malpractice concerning the gold plating of the door frames as well.

According to the vigilance report, a significant quantity of gold, approximately 474.9 grams, was handed over to donor Unnikrishnan Potti for the Dwarapalaka idols. However, official records do not indicate that this gold was ever re-entrusted to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). The report states that the handling of gold-clad items, mischaracterised as “copper plates,” along with the unauthorised extraction and misappropriation of gold from these plates, constitute serious offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The probe further reveals that in August 2019, fourteen pieces of gold-clad copper plates from the Dwarapalaka idols were handed over by Potti to Chennai-based Smart Creations. During inspection, traces of gold were found on the copper sheets. Although Smart Creations informed that it lacked the technical expertise to replate such items, Potti reportedly insisted that the work be carried out, issuing directions to utilise the previously extracted gold and any leftover material from the Dwarapalakas.

After cleaning, the gold plating work was undertaken in the presence of Potti and temple officials. On 4 September 2019, fourteen gold-plated copper plates were returned to Potti, along with a gold certificate showing 394.9 grams.

The investigation also records that a recovery specialist extracted 409 grams of gold from the side frame initially handed over and 577 grams from the Dwarapalakas and other fourteen items amounting to a total of 989 grams, which included three grams supplied by Potti himself.

The Travancore Devaswom Board Vigilance report has highlighted major procedural violations in the handling of gold from the Sabarimala Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) in 2019. It specifically noted that sending gold-clad plates outside the temple for replating constituted a serious breach of protocol. The report, which led the Kerala High Court to direct the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a detailed probe, stated that it was improbable that the Dwarapalaka idols’ gold-clad plates were sent to Chennai without the knowledge of the then TDB members.

As per the TDB Manual, all work involving temple valuables must be carried out within the temple premises under proper supervision. The manual mandates that Thiruvabharanams (sacred ornaments) should be repaired under the immediate oversight of the Assistant Commissioner. These procedures, the report noted, were completely ignored when the plates were handed over to donor Unnikrishnan Potti on 20 July 2019. The plates were subsequently transported to Smart Creations in Chennai and returned only after 49 days. “It should be investigated whether there was pressure or direction from board members for this illegal act,” the report stated.

The vigilance report also raised questions about Potti’s financial background, noting that he had sponsored multiple gold-cladding works at Sabarimala despite having no permanent source of income. During the preliminary inquiry, investigators examined Potti’s income tax returns from 2017 to 2025 through his chartered accountant. The inquiry found that the gold plating of the temple’s door, which was publicly attributed to Potti, had in fact been funded by a Ballari-based businessman, Govardanan. Similarly, the gold plating of the door frame was financed by another Bengaluru-based businessman, Ajikumar.

The report also detailed Potti’s past contributions to the temple. In January 2025, he sponsored several pujas and decorative works near the 18 holy steps of Sabarimala, funded the construction of a lift at the Annadanamandapam, and donated ₹6 lakh towards Annadanam (the temple’s free meal service). In 2017, he had also donated ₹8.2 lakh, along with 17 tonnes of rice and 30 tonnes of vegetables.

The vigilance findings further identified lapses and accountability failures on the part of nine Devaswom officials who handed over the gold-clad plates of the Dwarapalaka idols to Potti in 2019. Those named in the report include former Administrative Officer Murari Babu, former Executive Officer D. Sudish Kumar, former Secretary S. Jayashree, Assistant Engineer K. Sunil Kumar, Administrative Officer S. Sreekumar, former Thiruvabharanam Commissioners K.S. Baiju and R.J. Radhakrishnan, former Executive Officer V.S. Rajendraprasad, former Administrative Officer K. Rajendran Nair, and then Deputy Devaswom Commissioner (Finance Inspection Wing).

The vigilance report concludes that the unauthorised removal, handling, and reprocessing of temple gold outside the Sabarimala premises reflect serious administrative negligence and possible criminal intent, warranting further investigation by the Special Investigation Team under court supervision.

(With inputs from The Hindu)

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The Kerala High Court has directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities involving gold-plated copper plates from the Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple, following a controversy over the unexplained reduction in weight of the sacred items.

Court documents and NDTV reports reveal that Unnikrishnan Potty, a sponsor who had funded the gold-plating of the temple’s idols and other valuables, had sought permission to use the excess gold for sponsoring a girl’s wedding. According to NDTV, Potty had written to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on 9 December 2019, stating that after completing the gold work on the main door of the sanctum sanctorum and the dwarapalakars, he had some gold balance and requested guidance on using it for a wedding in coordination with the TDB.

The TDB Secretary, on 17 December 2019, reportedly sought clarity on the permissible use of the leftover gold, following Potty’s request.

Potty, who had been at the center of the controversy, had previously secured the TDB’s approval to sponsor the gold-plating at his own expense. The TDB had handed over the gold-clad copper plates, weighing 42.8 kilograms, to Potty’s company, Smart Creations, based in Chennai, for plating work. When the plates were returned to the temple, their weight was reportedly reduced to 38.258 kilograms. Despite this discrepancy, the TDB entrusted Potty with another gold-plating project in 2025.

The controversy intensified after the Kerala High Court ordered the immediate return of the panels removed for repair and censured the TDB for violating the Devaswom manual. The court noted that the TDB had failed to inform the court-appointed Sabarimala Special Commissioner. According to the court, the incident highlighted the “alarming manner” in which the Devaswom officials allegedly acted jointly with Potty, breaching the sanctity of temple property and the trust of devotees.

Following the court’s orders, a High Court-monitored SIT has been constituted to investigate the alleged irregularities related to the reduced weight of the gold-plated copper plates. The SIT will be led by former Superintendent of Police S. Sasidharan and overseen by Crime Branch chief Additional Director General of Police H. Venkatesh. The team will include three inspectors, including cyber experts, and will also examine TDB records and the role of Potty.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has publicly demanded accountability from the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government over the alleged gold theft. He reportedly expressed suspicion over the incident, stating that allegations of gold being siphoned off raised serious concerns. Tharoor reportedly told the media that the High Court-monitored SIT investigation was a welcome step, but that the public would remain concerned given the “shocking details” and the possibility of a systematic problem occurring over several years. He emphasized that “accountability is a must” in the matter.

The Kerala High Court continues to monitor the situation closely, while the SIT begins its inquiry into the alleged gold theft at one of India’s most venerated temples.

(With inputs from NDTV)

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