7 months ago
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The Kerala High Court connected Monday (October 6, 2025) directed the enactment of a peculiar probe squad (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities related to the reduced value of gold-clad copper plates of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols astatine Sabarimala.
A Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and K.V. Jayakumar ordered the constitution of SIT aft the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) Vigilance squad submitted an interim study connected its preliminary probe into the matter.
Earlier, the tribunal had directed the TDB Vigilance squad to analyse the reduced value of Dwarapalakas aft they were sent to a Chennai-based steadfast for electroplating, which was sponsored by businessman Unnikrishnan Potty successful 2019.
The SIT volition beryllium led by Superintendent of Police S. Sasidharan, and its functioning volition beryllium supervised by Crime Branch (CB) head, Additional Director General of Police H. Venketesh.
Officials from the Cyber Police person besides been included successful the team.
According to authorities sources, the Kerala authorities suggested the names of the officers to beryllium portion of the SIT to the Kerala High Court.
Mr. Sasidharan was selected for his precocious way grounds successful investigating analyzable transgression cases, including the 2022 Elanthoor quality sacrifice case.
The High Court ordered that the probe beryllium conducted confidentially and that reports beryllium submitted straight to it.
Last week, the tribunal had ordered a broad inventory of each valuables, including gold, astatine the Sabarimala temple nether the supervision of retired Justice K.T. Sankaran.
As portion of the probe, TDB Vigilance had questioned Mr. Potty for 2 days, aft which the study was filed successful the court.
Meanwhile, Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan welcomed the Kerala High Court determination of forming SIT to probe the incident.
