In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the missing gold from the Sabarimala temple, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Thursday arrested B Murari Babu, a former administrative officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). The arrest marks a crucial escalation in the probe, pointing to alleged complicity within the temple's administrative body.
Babu, who was recently suspended by the TDB in connection with the case, was taken into custody from his residence in Changanassery on Wednesday night. He was subsequently shifted to the Crime Branch office in Thiruvananthapuram for detailed questioning before his arrest was formally recorded on Thursday morning.
The Allegations: A Web of Misappropriation and Irregularities
The case revolves around the alleged misappropriation of gold from the sacred premises of the Sabarimala temple. The specific accusations focus on two key areas:
Theft from the gold-plated panels of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols.
Irregularities in the gold-plating work of these idols and the door frames of the Sreekovil (the sanctum sanctorum).
Murari Babu has been named as an accused in two separate cases related to these incidents. The allegations against him suggest a serious breach of procedural integrity.
According to sources, the sequence of events dates back to 2019. The prime accused in the case, Unnikrishnan Potty, had proposed electroplating the Dwarapalaka idols. It is alleged that Babu, while serving in a key administrative role, forwarded this proposal to the TDB with a crucial misrepresentation: he reportedly stated that the existing gold-clad plates were made of copper, thereby facilitating their removal and replacement. He is said to have forwarded a similar proposal from Potty again in 2025, further entrenching the alleged scheme.
Systemic Lapses and a Widening Probe
The TDB's own Vigilance wing, which conducted a preliminary inquiry, had already raised red flags. Its report not only suspected the involvement of certain board officials in the removal of gold but also pointed out "serious lapses" by Babu and seven other TDB officials. These lapses pertain to the improper handing over of the valuable gold-clad plates to Potty.
The SIT, which is probing the case under the direct supervision of the Kerala High Court, had already arrested the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty. Babu's arrest indicates that the investigation is now moving up the chain, focusing on the administrative oversight and potential collusion that enabled the alleged theft.
Next Steps in the Investigation
Officials stated that the SIT will produce Murari Babu before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Pathanamthitta. The investigation team is likely to file a petition seeking police custody of the accused for a detailed interrogation. Custody would allow investigators to confront Babu with evidence and delve deeper into the modus operandi, the extent of the gold misappropriation, and the possible involvement of other individuals.
The arrest has sent shockwaves through the TDB and the devotees of the hill shrine, underscoring the vulnerability of even the most revered institutions to systemic malpractice. As the SIT peels back the layers of this complex case, the public awaits further answers in the pursuit of justice for the sacred trust that was allegedly broken.
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