Kochi, June 13, 2026: B. Murari Babu, the second accused in the high-profile Sabarimala gold theft case and a former Administrative Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board, passed away on Saturday while undergoing treatment for cancer at a private hospital in Kochi. He was a native of Perunna, Changanassery.
Who Was Murari Babu?
Murari Babu joined the Travancore Devaswom Board in 1997 and served in various temples, including Ettumanoor, Vaikom, and Thirunakkara, before rising to the position of Administrative Officer. Reports indicate that he had earlier been selected as a police constable in Kerala Police but did not complete training and later joined the Devaswom Board.
Role in the Sabarimala Gold Theft Case
Murari Babu was named as the second accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, which involves allegations that valuable gold plates affixed to the temple’s Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) sculptures and the Kattilappadi structure in front of the sanctum sanctorum were removed and replaced with lower-value materials.
Investigators alleged that official records prepared during his tenure described certain gold-covered structures as copper-plated, a discrepancy that later became a key element in the probe. During questioning, Murari Babu reportedly maintained that such actions could not have occurred without the knowledge of senior officials within the Devaswom administration.
Arrest and Bail
The Vigilance Department arrested Murari Babu in October 2025 in connection with both the Dwarapalaka sculpture case and the Kattilappadi gold plate case. He spent nearly 90 days in judicial custody before obtaining statutory bail after investigators failed to file the charge sheet within the prescribed period.
Financial Investigation
Apart from the theft allegations, Murari Babu also faced scrutiny over a significant increase in his assets. Enforcement agencies examined whether his wealth was disproportionate to his known sources of income. He denied wrongdoing, but financial investigations were continuing.
Impact on the Case
The Sabarimala gold theft case is one of Kerala’s most widely discussed corruption and temple-administration scandals in recent years. Murari Babu’s death comes while investigations and legal proceedings are still ongoing. Legal experts note that while proceedings against a deceased accused generally abate, the broader investigation into the alleged theft and the involvement of other accused persons is expected to continue.
Murari Babu’s death marks a significant development in a case that has attracted statewide attention and raised serious questions about the management and safeguarding of valuable temple assets at Sabarimala.
