Murari Babu built huge house during gold smuggling time, bought teak in name of temple

KOTTAYAM: Reports said Murari Babu, arrested in Sabarimala gold theft, bought teakwood for his own house in Perunna built after spending crores, misleading it for temple purposes. He contacted the forest department's timber depot in Kottayam Nattassery, saying that teakwood was needed for the construction of the Thirunakkara and Ettumanoor temples and the Devaswom guest house. However, when told that there was no stock of timber there, Murari Babu asked them to arrange it from any other depot. The wood was provided from a depot as per the directions of the officials of the forest department.

However, devaswom officials said that no such wood work was done in Thirunakkara and Ettumanoor at that time. Although waste wood was brought to replace the wooden frames of the padinjare nada of the Ettumanoor temple, the work did not take place due to the objections of the advisory committee.

Murari Babu built a two-storied house in Perunna in 2019. It is believed that around Rs 2 crore was spent for the house alone. Only high-quality materials, including wooden structures, were used. The investigation team has found the smuggling of gold and the house was built at the same time. Therefore, an investigation is also underway regarding the financial source for the construction of the house. Murari Babu was taken into custody from his house in Perunna the other day. Meantime, the Special Investigation Team has filed an application in the court to get Murari Babu into custody.