The Special Investigation Team probing the Sabarimala gold theft case has arrested former Travancore Devaswom Board president P.S. Prasanth and former board member A. Ajikumar. The arrests make the inquiry more serious because the case now directly involves former office-bearers of the temple body responsible for administration and asset custody.
Investigators say the case concerns the illegal transport of gold-plated panels from the temple’s guardian deity sculptures to Chennai in 2025. The Special Investigation Team believes the movement was used to conceal earlier theft and financial irregularities dating back to 2019.
The High Court had earlier pressed the Special Investigation Team to file its final chargesheet by the end of the month. That direction shows judicial monitoring of a sensitive case involving alleged diversion of temple property and possible institutional lapses.
Why the case matters
The case is important for UPSC because it sits at the intersection of governance, public accountability, and criminal justice. Temple boards handle public religious endowments, and alleged misuse of such assets raises questions on internal controls, audit trails, custody protocols, and oversight by state institutions.
Background and continuity
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