The Kerala Special Investigation Team (SIT) has intensified its probe into the high-profile Sabarimala gold theft case, conducting a raid on Saturday at the Bengaluru residence of Potti Unnikrishnan, the prime accused in the 2019 heist. This marks another significant development in the investigation into the theft of gold-plated panels from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) panels at the Sabarimala temple.

Unnikrishnan, who was taken to Bengaluru on Friday for evidence collection, has been remanded to police custody until October 30. Authorities are closely examining his role in orchestrating the theft and any potential accomplices involved in the crime, which has attracted widespread media attention and public scrutiny.

The theft, which took place in 2019, involved the removal of gold-plated overlays from the Dwarapalaka panels, integral to the temple’s sanctity and heritage. The incident raised serious questions about internal security protocols at one of Kerala’s most revered temples, prompting the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to escalate the matter to the SIT for a detailed investigation.

In a parallel development, the Ranni Court remanded former Travancore Devaswom Board Executive Officer Murari Babu to 14 days’ custody in connection with the case. Babu, currently under suspension, was taken into custody late Wednesday night from his residence in Perunna following questioning at the Crime Branch office in Thiruvananthapuram, where his arrest was formally recorded.

According to the SIT remand report, Murari Babu is accused of playing a pivotal role in falsifying official documents that misrepresented the gold-plated panels as copper during the 2019 restoration process. The SIT suspects that Babu colluded with Unnikrishnan, submitting a false report that facilitated the misappropriation of the temple’s valuable assets. Babu, who had served in senior positions within the Devaswom Board for several years, has been identified as the second accused in the case, following Unnikrishnan’s arrest. The internal audit wing had previously held him responsible for discrepancies during the restoration.

The case gained renewed momentum after Unnikrishnan, in the run-up to the TDB-sponsored Global Ayyappa Sanghamam in September, claimed that four gold-plated panels he had donated in 2019 were missing. Subsequent vigilance action by the TDB led to the recovery of these panels from Unnikrishnan’s sister’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram. This discovery prompted the Kerala High Court to order a detailed SIT investigation into all transactions involving Unnikrishnan within the TDB, broadening the scope of the probe.

Further complicating the case, the Travancore Devaswom Board president, P.S. Prasanth, suspended Assistant Engineer K Sunil Kumar for his alleged involvement in the theft. Kumar has since been named as an accused, highlighting concerns about possible systemic lapses and collusion within the temple administration.

The SIT’s ongoing operations, including the raid in Bengaluru, are part of a comprehensive strategy to uncover the full extent of the theft and recover the remaining stolen property. The investigation involves detailed scrutiny of financial records, internal communications, and witness testimonies to piece together the sequence of events leading to the 2019 heist.

Officials have emphasized that the Sabarimala gold theft case is not merely a matter of financial loss but also an attack on religious trust and heritage. The temple, which attracts millions of pilgrims annually, relies on transparent governance and strict security measures to protect its sanctity. Any breach, as in this case, has significant religious and social implications.

The Kerala SIT continues to coordinate with local authorities and forensic teams in Bengaluru to gather material evidence from Unnikrishnan’s residence. The investigation is expected to shed light on whether the theft was carried out by a small group of insiders or involved a larger network.

As the SIT tightens its probe, the case remains under intense public scrutiny. Religious leaders, devotees, and the general public are closely following developments, eager for justice in what has been described as one of Kerala’s most audacious temple thefts in recent years.