Thiruvananthapuram: The Special Investigation Team has booked the former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) led by CPM leader A Padmakumar, in connection with the case related to the missing gold from the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. All board members who served in 2019 have been named as the eighth accused in the case.

The then Devaswom Commissioner N Vasu, Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, Executive Officer, Administrative Officer, and Assistant Engineer have also been booked.

Addressing the media here on Sunday, A Padmakumar said he was ready to cooperate with the probe, claiming that he had done nothing illegal. He welcomed the investigation and said the truth should come to light.

“Let the court decide whether the board under me committed any irregularities or not. I’m not worried about the probe because my board never violated any rules or customs at the Sabarimala Temple,” he told the media.

Unnikrishnan Potti, who sponsored the Dwarapalaka idol coverings and allegedly extracted gold from them under the guise of electroplating, has been named as the first accused in the case. His associate, Kalpesh, has been named the second accused.

The accused face charges of dishonest misappropriation of property, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and criminal acts committed by several persons in furtherance of a common intention under Sections 403, 406, 409, 466, 467, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The case
Unnikrishnan Potty, the priest-turned-sponsor at the centre of the Sabarimala gold-plate scandal, urged the Devaswom officials to proceed with the gold coating work on the Dwarapalaka idols in 2019.

Then, in October 2024, he sent another email, asking officials to redo the work since the idols showed 'discolouration due to extreme climate change'. Devaswom officials acceded to this request on September 8, 2025, flouting HC directives, standard protocol and the mandate prescribed in the board manual.

The Kerala High Court began looking into the issue following the findings in the report submitted by the Devaswom Vigilance SP and the Sabarimala High Commissioner. Later, HC ordered the SIT under Crime Branch ADGP H Venkatesh to register a case and start a probe.