The High Court observed that if sufficient evidence emerged against any individual during the course of the investigation, the SIT should proceed in accordance with law, including by filing supplementary reports wherever necessary.
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The Kerala High Court on Monday allowed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged Sabarimala gold loss to register a fresh criminal case after it reported that evidence had surfaced against former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P S Prashanth in connection with the 2025 re-plating of the temple’s Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols.A Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar said the SIT could either register a separate case relating to the 2025 re-plating or include its findings in the ongoing investigation into the alleged loss of gold during the 2019 re-plating of the idols.The SIT was constituted by the High Court to investigate two cases concerning the alleged disappearance of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and the gold-plated doorframes of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum), which were removed and taken to Chennai for re-plating in 2019.Investigating Officer S Sasidharan submitted that the probe had unearthed evidence suggesting that the alleged conspiracy extended beyond the original accused to other TDB officials and Board members.According to the report, the Dwarapalaka idols, which were first clad in gold in 1998, were transported to Chennai in 2019 at the instance of the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty. During the re-plating process, the original gold cladding was allegedly removed, while only a small quantity of gold was required for fresh plating. The remaining gold was allegedly misappropriated.The report further stated that despite the poor quality of the re-plating work, a certificate claiming a 40-year warranty was issued to avoid suspicion. However, the gold coating reportedly deteriorated within months, exposing the copper surface beneath.SIT’s allegationThe SIT alleged that the accused later entered into another criminal conspiracy to send the idols to Chennai again in 2025 under the pretext of fresh gold plating in an attempt to conceal the alleged misappropriation that took place during the 2019 exercise.According to the investigation, after Prashanth assumed office as TDB president in November 2023, Unnikrishnan Potty allegedly gained his confidence and persuaded him to facilitate the proposal for another round of re-plating.The investigation concluded that the acts allegedly committed by the accused disclosed offences including criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal conspiracy, warranting action under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.The High Court observed that if sufficient evidence emerged against any individual during the course of the investigation, the SIT should proceed in accordance with law, including by filing supplementary reports wherever necessary.It is for the SIT to carry the investigation forward with all diligence and vigour and, if the materials so warrant, either register a fresh crime in respect of the transaction relating to the year 2025 or file a further report in the Dwarapalaka case, the Bench said.Published on June 29, 2026
