KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to thoroughly investigate the aspect of criminal conspiracy in the Sabarimala gold scam, observing that the chain of events commencing in 2019 and the subsequent entrustment of the dwarapalaka idols to Unnikrishnan Potti appeared to be part of a larger and well-orchestrated scheme.
The court also referred to a letter dated August 21, 2025, from the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, citing directions from the president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to expedite the gold-plating work proposed by the sponsor.
A Division Bench, comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K V Jayakumar, held that the investigation should extend to uncovering the larger conspiracy, identifying TDB officials who may have colluded to conceal the misappropriation of gold from the gold-cladded plates, and determining whether the entrustment of the dwarapalaka idols in 2025 formed part of a broader scheme to suppress the pilferage that occurred in 2019.
The bench directed the SIT to examine every facet of the matter and ascertain the role and complicity, if any, of each TDB officer, from the highest echelons downward.
“The higher officials of the Board cannot absolve themselves of responsibility or shift the blame onto subordinate officers, for each of them bore a collective duty to ensure that the sacred valuables of the deity were neither pilfered nor wasted,” it observed.
All proceedings to be conducted in camera
The Bench further noted that it may not be appropriate to pass additional orders in the matter, as some of the prospective accused had been impleaded as additional respondents during the proceedings.
Hence, it directed the High Court registry to register a suo motu writ petition in the matter, making the state government, the principal secretary (revenue department), the secretary of the TDB, the chief vigilance and security officer (superintendent of police), the state police chief, and the state audit department as respondents.
In view of the grave nature of the offences involved, the court directed the SIT to forthwith seize the minutes book of the TDB and keep it in safe custody. Copies of the minutes book shall also be forwarded to the registrar general, who shall ensure that they are kept sealed and secured.
The court also decided to conduct all proceedings in camera, excluding the public and lawyers concerned. The registrar (judicial) has issued a notice stating that all further proceedings in the case will be conducted in camera. The court interacted with the officers heading the SIT, who were present in the court on Tuesday, also in camera.