YTC Ventures | Technocrat’ Magazine
1 Nov 2025
A major twist has emerged in the ongoing Sabarimala Temple gold theft case, as the Kerala High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) made its third arrest. The investigation concerns the misappropriation of gold-plated artefacts and temple ornaments belonging to the revered Sabarimala Temple — one of India’s most visited pilgrimage centers.
According to officials, this case exposes a long-standing network of corruption, record manipulation, and asset mismanagement within temple administration circles.
Who Are the Accused?
1. Unnikrishnan Potti — The Prime Accused
A priest-turned-businessman, Potti allegedly masterminded the removal and replacement of gold-plated panels and sanctum door frames with inferior materials. His role is central to the temple gold theft case, as investigators uncovered discrepancies between inventory records and actual artefacts.
2. Murari Babu — Administrative Collusion
A former administrative officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), Murari Babu is accused of record tampering and aiding falsification of temple material data. He allegedly helped disguise the theft by logging gold artefacts as low-value items.
3. D. Sudheesh Kumar — The Insider Executive
The former Executive Officer of Sabarimala Temple, D. Sudheesh Kumar, became the third person arrested in the SIT probe. Investigators believe he misreported gold-plated idols as copper, facilitating the silent disappearance of valuable temple property.
The Case: Gold Missing from the Sanctum
The case revolves around the alleged diversion and misappropriation of gold cladding used on dwarapalaka idols and door frames of the sanctum sanctorum (sreekovil).
A forensic audit revealed severe mismatches between the recorded gold quantity and physical verification, confirming large-scale irregularities.
Recovered evidence includes gold pieces traced to a Karnataka-based jeweller, suggesting a wider inter-state network.
Legal and Administrative Fallout
The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to expand the SIT and submit a status report detailing every aspect of the gold recovery.
Meanwhile, the Travancore Devaswom Board — responsible for managing Sabarimala — faces mounting pressure over governance lapses, missing inventory records, and the erosion of public trust.
This high-profile temple corruption case has sent shockwaves across the state, stirring debates about accountability in religious institutions.
Technocrat Insight: How Technology Could Have Prevented This
The Sabarimala temple artefacts scandal underlines a systemic gap between faith and technology. Modern tools can help prevent such thefts:
RFID & Blockchain Asset Tracking: Every artefact and ornament should carry a digital identity tag for real-time verification.
Forensic Gold Audits: Independent third-party audits with spectrometric testing to confirm authenticity and weight.
Cloud-Based Inventory Systems: A tamper-proof temple asset management platform with role-based access control.
AI Surveillance: Smart CCTV analytics to monitor sensitive temple zones.
Public Transparency Dashboard: Devotees can view asset data, donations, and maintenance logs online — ensuring divine trust meets digital trust.
Why This Case Matters
Sabarimala is not just a temple — it is a symbol of faith, discipline, and devotion for millions. The gold theft scandal undermines that sanctity and highlights the urgent need for structural reform.
As the SIT continues arrests and forensic audits, the outcome of this case could set a national precedent for temple governance and digital transparency in India.
Conclusion
The Sabarimala Temple gold artefacts theft case exposes deep-rooted flaws in asset management within India’s religious institutions. The arrests of Unnikrishnan Potti, Murari Babu, and D. Sudheesh Kumar mark just the beginning of a legal and moral reckoning.
Technocrat Magazine and YTC Ventures urge a national shift towards smart governance, ensuring that faith, technology, and integrity move forward together.
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