Sabarimala gold scam: HC asks SIT to verify scope of anti-graft law, ensure scientific probe

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold-plating scam to examine whether the facts and circumstances of the case warrant invoking provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act against any officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and to take appropriate legal action if required.

The court also directed a scientific investigation into the alleged misappropriation of gold during the repair and re-plating of sacred artefacts at the Sabarimala Sreekovil, including the Dwarapalaka idols, peedams, and doors.

A division bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar issued the direction after noting "grave irregularities" and possible "acts of misappropriation" in the gold-plating of the temple's Dwarapalaka idols and other artefacts.

The court observed that these irregularities appeared to have been carried out "with the active connivance of officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board— from the highest levels of authority down to the subordinate staff involved in temple administration across the state."

The court further observed that the TDB's minutes book had been updated only up to July 28, 2025, and even those entries were "irregular and incomplete." The bench said it was "particularly alarming" that the Board order dated September 2, 2025, which granted permission to carry out repair and gold-plating works on the Dwarapalaka idols at Smart Creations, Chennai, had no corresponding entry in the minutes book.

"This omission, in our considered view, is a matter of the utmost seriousness and warrants close scrutiny," it said, adding that "the failure to maintain the minutes in a regular and contemporaneous manner constitutes a grave lapse on the part of the TDB." It further said that the omission to record accurate and meaningful minutes was symptomatic of "deeper systemic deficiencies within the institution," and, at its worst, may reflect "a deliberate attempt to obscure or conceal irregularities."

The bench also observed that Bengaluru-based businessman Unnikrishnan Potty was given "free rein" to carry out the gold-plating work in Chennai. Potty, the prime accused in the scam-related cases, was recently arrested.

The court further noted that Potty began his "dubious activities" in collusion with certain Devaswom Board officials, starting with the alleged sponsorship of gold-plating for the main door of the Sreekovil. "What appears at first glance to be an act of devotion has, on closer scrutiny, all the hallmarks of a calculated deceit," the bench said.

The court observed that substantial quantities of gold were allegedly removed from the originally gold-clad idols, pedestals, and door frames during the 2019 repairs, with only superficial gold plating carried out afterwards. As the plating began to fade, the artefacts were secretly transported to Chennai under the pretext of recladding, likely to conceal any discrepancies.

"The perpetrators conducted superficial gold plating, using only minimal quantities of gold, when only thin abrating, inevitably faded and revealed discrepancies, an attempt was made to cover up the earlier ... by clandestinely transporting the artefacts to Chennai under the pretext of recladding," the bench remarked.

The court has directed the SIT to conduct scientific weighing and sampling of the Dwarapalaka idol plates, side doors, frames, and copper plates to assess the actual loss of gold. Additionally, samples will be collected from other gold-plated surfaces within the temple premises for comparison.

It also inferred that the Dwarapalaka idols were allowed to be taken to Chennai in 2025 without court permission, as "those in positions of authority were apprehensive that compliance with statutory and judicial mandates would inevitably expose the irregularities committed in 2019."

"Every official who played any role, whether by authorising, facilitating, or wilfully overlooking these violations, has thereby aided and abetted the commission of the act, rendering themselves jointly and severally responsible for the desecration and misappropriation of sacred property entrusted to their care," the court said.

(With inputs from LiveLaw)