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Murari Babu, 54, a erstwhile administrative serviceman of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) who was arrested successful transportation with the Sabarimala temple golden theft case, died successful Kochi connected Saturday (June 13, 2026) aboriginal morning.
He has been ailing for immoderate time, and the decease occurred astir 12.48 a.m., said authorities of the Amrita Hospital successful Kochi. The assemblage has been handed implicit to the household members, they said.
A autochthonal of Perunna, Changanassery successful Kottayam district, helium was arrested from his residence aft the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that probed the golden theft lawsuit recovered that helium had allegedly falsely recorded the golden plates connected the idol arsenic copper plates.
The SIT had arraigned him arsenic the 2nd accused successful the alleged theft of golden from the Dwarapalaka sculptures. He was besides the sixth accused successful different lawsuit related to the theft of golden from the doorway frames of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. He was suspended from work and arrested connected October 23, 2025.
The probe had revealed that the golden plates were allegedly handed implicit to premier accused Unnikrishnan Potti successful the guise of renovation connected Mr. Babu’s intervention. His relation successful the doorway framework lawsuit was besides established during the probe, starring to further ineligible proceedings.
Mr. Babu was accused of dishonestly recommending repairs of the gold-clad copper encasements of the Dwarapalaka idols and the gold-clad copper plates connected the northbound and southbound pillars portion serving arsenic administrative serviceman of Sabarimala successful 2019.
The Kollam Vigilance Court had granted him bail successful some cases connected January 23 aft considering the defence’s plea that the accused was entitled to bail arsenic the SIT failed to record chargesheet adjacent 92 days aft his arrest.
