KOLLAM — The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the high-profile Sabarimala gold loss case has told the Vigilance Court in Kollam that former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P.S. Prasanth and former board member A. Ajikumar deliberately ignored official recommendations to use traditional gold-replating techniques, opting instead to hand the work to Chennai-based private firm Smart Creations.

The allegations were detailed in a formal remand report filed following the arrests of Prasanth (named 17th accused) and Ajikumar (18th accused) by the SIT.

Key Findings in the Remand Report

The SIT is currently investigating two interconnected cases regarding gold pilferage from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) sculptures and the doorframes of the Sabarimala Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum), following electroplating operations carried out in 2019 and 2025.

  • 2024 Board Decision: In 2024, Prasanth, Ajikumar, and former board member G. Sundaresan approved maintenance on the Dwarapalaka panels. The work was postponed due to the heavy Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.

  • Exclusion of Key Official: In November 2024, the TDB issued orders for electroplating, citing health issues to exclude the then Thiruvabharanam Commissioner from oversight and assigning the work to a clerk and a Devaswom smith.

  • Thiruvabharanam Commissioner’s Warning Ignored: After taking charge in January 2025, Thiruvabharanam Commissioner Rejilal reviewed the files and submitted two formal reports (on July 30 and August 8, 2025) explicitly advising the TDB to stick to the traditional replating method.

Why the Traditional Method Was Recommended

Rejilal warned board authorities that Smart Creations lacked the technology to safely recover and reuse the original gold layer already present on the Dwarapalaka panels.

Clubbed Investigations: The SIT recently informed the Kerala High Court that the probe into alleged gold loss during the September 2025 maintenance has been merged with the primary 2019 Dwarapalaka idol case to uncover the full extent of the scheme.