Sabarimala gold scam: Advocate for accused selected as Special Government Pleader

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Advocate K.B. Pradeep, who previously represented Smart Creations—a key accused entity in the high-profile Sabarimala gold heist case—has been appointed as the Special Government Pleader for the Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards in the High Court of Kerala.

Pradeep has extensive experience handling temple administration and Devaswom-related litigation in the High Court. Government sources indicated that the division of responsibilities among the newly appointed pleaders was determined primarily by evaluating their past professional expertise. During the initial phases of the investigation, Pradeep had also served as the legal spokesperson for Smart Creations and its owner, Pankaj Bhandari.

The appointment has triggered significant political and public scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest. When questioned by reporters on the propriety of elevating a defence counsel in a major temple scam to a state prosecutor role, Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan defended the decision with an unconventional rationale.

The Minister suggested that having a prosecutor who is thoroughly acquainted with the vulnerabilities and legal strategies of the accused could ultimately benefit the state's case. He firmly reasserted that the perpetrators behind the gold heist would not escape justice under any circumstances.

Muraleedharan further clarified that he was absent from the recent Cabinet meeting where the final selections were ratified, noting that the Cabinet had delegated the discretionary authority for these legal appointments directly to the Chief Minister. While acknowledging the debate, the Minister emphasised the principle of collective cabinet responsibility, stating he could not publicly dispute a formalised government decision.

The legal dispute dates back to 2019, centering on the gold-plating work performed on the Dwarapala (guardian deity) sculptures at the Sabarimala hill shrine. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the scam named Pankaj Bhandari, the owner and CEO of Smart Creations, as the ninth accused in the case. Forensic and investigative findings by the SIT established that a significant quantity of gold intended for the shrine had been illicitly extracted and diverted at the facility of Smart Creations.

This controversial appointment is part of a broader, systemic restructuring of the state’s legal apparatus in the High Court. The administration has dissolved the previous legal team, terminating the tenures of 18 Senior Government Pleaders and 20 Government Pleaders appointed by the predecessor government.

The restructuring marks a shift in the hierarchy of the Devaswom legal wing. Previously, the department’s highest designation in the High Court was limited to Senior Government Pleader. The administration has now introduced three newly created posts of Special Government Pleader, filled by K.B. Pradeep, P.K. Sajeevan, and P.K. Santhamma.

Alongside these three Special Pleaders, the government has inducted 17 Senior Government Pleaders and 19 Government Pleaders to manage its extensive litigation portfolio. The newly appointed Special Government Pleaders will serve a designated term of three years.