Sabarimala gold theft case: Murari Babu appears before ED for questioning

KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate is questioning former Travancore Devaswom Board administrative officer Murari Babu in the Sabarimala gold theft case. Murari Babu appeared at the Kochi ED office on Tuesday morning. He is the first person to be questioned by the ED in the gold robbery case.

The ED is questioning him in the fraud committed in Dwarapalaka and door frame layers of the temple. Murari Babu, arrested earlier in the case, was granted bail a few days back. Murari Babu, arrested on October 22 last year, was granted natural bail after 90 days following the investigation team's failure to file the charge sheet.

The ED has found that Murari Babu deliberately misrepresented in official documents that sacred gold-plated objects in the temple, including the Dwarapalaka idol elements, the Pithas, and the door frame panels of the shrine, were copper plates. The ED is also planning to question others who are involved in the case.

Meanwhile, the Kollam Vigilance Court will consider today the bail application of Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, who is on remand in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The Tantri filed bail applications in the door frame case and the Dwarapalaka sculpture case. The Tantri argued that he had no role in the gold robbery and was only doing his duty devoutly with the customs of the temple.