Thiruvananthapuram: Amid the Crime Branch probe into the Sabarimala gold-plate scam, a report by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) Vigilance has revealed that Unnikrishnan Potty, the sponsor of the gold coverings on the Dwarapalaka idols, did not have any permanent source of income.

The Devaswom Vigilance initiated an investigation into Potty after the Kerala High Court registered a suo motu case and ordered a probe into the missing gold. As part of the preliminary inquiry, the Vigilance examined Potty’s income tax returns for 2017 to 2025 through his chartered accountant.

“No permanent source of income has been revealed. In 2025-26, ₹10.85 lakh was credited to his bank account from Kamakshi Enterprises under the category 'Other Social or Community Service',” the report stated.

On Friday, the Vigilance team submitted its inquiry report to the Kerala High Court. Based on this report, the court directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) under Crime Branch ADGP H Venkatesh to register a case and launch an investigation. The SIT has named Potty as the first accused in the case, along with TDB members from 2019, the Devaswom Commissioner, the Executive Officer, the Administrative Officer, and the Assistant Engineer from that period.

The Vigilance has recommended a comprehensive probe into the works sponsored by Potty at Sabarimala. It found that the repair and gold-plating of the sanctum sanctorum door, which were claimed to have been sponsored by Potty, were actually funded by a Ballari-based businessman, Govardhan.

Similarly, the gold plating of the door frame, also attributed to Potty, was actually sponsored by another Bengaluru-based businessman, Ajikumar, according to the report.

Massive donations
Potty had also made several donations to the temple. In January, he sponsored various pujas and decorative works on either side of the 18 sacred steps at the temple. He contributed ₹10 lakh for an elevator at the Annadhana Mandapam and ₹6 lakh for the Annadhanam (free meal service), reported PTI, quoting the Vigilance findings. 

Earlier, in 2017, he had donated ₹8.2 lakh along with 17 tonnes of rice and 30 tonnes of vegetables to the temple, the report said.

The Vigilance report highlighted lapses by nine Devaswom officials for handing over the gold-clad copper panels of the Dwarapalaka idols to Potty in 2019.

Those named include former Administrative Officer B Murari Babu, former Executive Officer D Sudish Kumar, former Secretary S Jayashree, Assistant Engineer K Sunil Kumar, Administrative Officer S. Sreekumar, former Thiruvabharanam Commissioners KS Baiju and RJ Radhakrishnan, former Executive Officer VS Rajendraprasad, and former Administrative Officer K Rajendran Nair.

TDB Vigilance also found lapses on the part of the 2019 Deputy Devaswom Commissioner (Finance Inspection Wing).