Major conspiracy in Sabarimala gold theft; Gold plates were falsely recorded as copper

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The remand report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) states that former executive officer D. Sudheesh Kumar, who was arrested in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case, had a clear role in the incident.

According to the report, Sudheesh Kumar conspired and planned with the main accused, Unnikrishnan Potty and Murari Babu, to smuggle the stolen gold. He intentionally recorded that the gold-plated sheets were made of copper, creating an opportunity for the theft and fraud. The report also mentions that he prepared a false recommendation letter to hand over the gold sheets to Unnikrishnan Potty for “renovation.” Names of people who were not present during the official documentation were also added, all as part of the plan to commit fraud.

Sudheesh Kumar was arrested and remanded for 14 days in two cases related to the theft of gold from the gold-plated door panels and the Dwarapalaka sculptures at the Sabarimala temple sanctum sanctorum. He has been lodged in the Thiruvananthapuram sub-jail, and the SIT will seek his custody for further interrogation and evidence collection. The other accused, Unnikrishnan Potty and Murari Babu, are also in judicial custody at the Thiruvananthapuram Special Sub Jail. Murari Babu is expected to file a bail plea at the Ranni Magistrate Court on Monday.

Possible involvement of higher officials

• The SIT suspects that higher officials may also be involved, based on Sudheesh’s statement. The investigation team is likely to question senior officials linked to the planning of the theft in the coming days.
• The report also notes that senior officials, including the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, were absent when the gold sheets were removed from the temple structure.