THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged gold misappropriation and theft at the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple has arrested B Murari Babu, the former Administrative Officer (AO) of the temple.
Babu, who was earlier suspended by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), was taken into custody late Wednesday night from his residence in the Kottayam district after several hours of questioning. He is the second major arrest in the high-profile case, following that of prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti.
Key Allegations Against Murari Babu:
Forging Records: Babu is accused of playing a key role in the conspiracy that involved the disappearance and replacement of gold-plated artifacts. Investigators allege that during his tenure as Administrative Officer in 2019, he wrongly certified the gold-plated plates of the ‘Dwarapalaka’ (guardian deity) idols as being made of “copper” in official records (Mahazar).
Facilitating Theft: This false documentation is believed to have paved the way for the original gold plating to be handed over for repairs to Unnikrishnan Potti—the alleged sponsor—without proper TDB procedure, leading to the gold’s subsequent misappropriation.
Conspiracy: The SIT views Babu as a crucial link in the conspiracy that spanned the period from 2019 to 2024. He is named as an accused in two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) registered in connection with the theft of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frames.
The arrest was formally recorded on Thursday morning, and the SIT is expected to produce him before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Pathanamthitta later in the day to seek his custody for detailed interrogation. The probe is being monitored by the Kerala High Court.
Former Sabarimala Administrative Officer Murari Babu Arrested in Gold Misappropriation Case.
