Sabarimala gold theft case; Noose tightens around Devaswom higher-ups after Murari Babu's crucial statement

PATHANAMTHITTA: Former administrative officer Murari Babu made a crucial statement that he registered gold as copper in the document following the instructions of the higher-ups. Unnikrishnan Potty had also given a similar statement to the SIT earlier. With this, the noose tightened further around the Devaswom officials in the Sabarimala gold theft case.

The remand report states that Murari Babu deliberately misappropriated the Mahazar in Sabarimala. He conspired with Unnikrishnan Potty to steal gold and other items from the temple shrine. Babu has admitted that this was done with the knowledge of the then Devaswom office bearers.

It should thus be presumed that Murari Babu conspired to misuse the temple wealth, hurting the sentiments of crores of devotees. Murari knew that the temple was gold-plated in 1998. He is the second accused in the case of stealing the gold from the Dwarapalaka sculptures and the sixth accused in the gold-plated roof scam case.

Babu, who was produced in the Ranni First Class Judicial Magistrate Court at 6 pm on Thursday, was remanded for 14 days. The trial was videotaped in a closed room. Since the court time was over, the date for the accused to be produced again on the production warrant will be announced on Friday morning. The SIT will take him into custody. The police announced on Thursday that the accused will be questioned in detail to find the co-responsible parties and find out the role of each one. It will also be examined whether an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act was committed. He was brought to the court with heavy security. Earlier, when Unnikrishnan Potty was produced, somebody from the crowd threw a slipper at him.

1. Murari Babu was questioned by a special team for more than 15 hours. Based on the statement, more documents were seized from the Devaswom Board on Thursday.

2. Crime Branch ADGP H. Venkatesh came in person to question him. The arrest followed. He was taken into custody from his house in Perunna, Changanassery, on Wednesday night.