Sabarimala gold heist: Former Thiruvabharanam commissioner remanded as SIT tightens probe

Arrests in the Sabarimala gold heist case spark a fresh wave of political controversy in Kerala, with BJP and Congress launching protests demanding accountability

PGurus Newsdesk

November 8, 2025

Kerala SIT cracks down on temple gold theft; BJP and Congress escalate protests

Kerala SIT exposes insider network in Sabarimala temple gold theft

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the sensational Sabarimala gold heist has secured the judicial remand of former Thiruvabharanam Commissioner K.S. Baiju till November 21, tightening its focus on the alleged insider network behind the theft of temple assets.

Baiju, who served as the custodian of the Travancore Devaswom Board’s (TDB) temple treasures, was arrested on Thursday and produced before the Ranni court on Friday. Investigators allege that he falsified records to disguise gold-plated components of the dwarapalaka sculptures and the Srikovil kattila panel as mere copper sheets — allowing the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, to swap and smuggle them out.

Alleged lapses and deliberate absences

The SIT noted that Baiju failed to sign critical handover orders and was conspicuously absent during key moments when the gold-plated items were removed from the shrine — a lapse investigators suspect was intentional. This absence also prevented the High Court-appointed Special Commissioner from being alerted to the irregularities.

Two other former TDB officials remain under custodial interrogation — Administrative Officer Murari Babu, remanded till Monday, and Executive Officer Sudheesh Kumar, in custody till November 12.

Meanwhile, former TDB president N. Vasu may face renewed questioning following sharp observations from the Kerala High Court.

Political storm before pilgrimage season

The expanding probe has ignited a political storm across Kerala ahead of the annual Mandala–Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.

The BJP has launched a mass signature campaign, aiming to collect one crore signatures from devotees across southern India. The party demands Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to protect the shrine’s assets and improve pilgrim facilities. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar accused the state government of “failing to protect the temple’s wealth” and called for Sabarimala’s administration to be moved out of state control.

The Congress, too, has escalated its agitation. KPCC president Sunny Joseph announced a ‘Secretariat March’ on November 12, alleging that the ruling CPI(M)-led government has been shielding corruption and mismanagement in the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Amid mounting criticism from both opposition fronts, the CPI(M) has recommended reconstituting the Travancore Devaswom Board, a politically significant move coming just weeks before the pilgrimage season begins.

The state government is expected to consider a major restructuring of the Board to restore public faith and stem the political fallout as local body elections approach.
With the Sabarimala issue once again at the centre of Kerala’s religious and political discourse, the gold heist case has rekindled long-simmering debates about faith, accountability, and state control over temple affairs.

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