Sudheesh Kumar, who previously served as the executive officer of the Sabarimala temple in 2019, has been apprehended by the Special Investigating Team (SIT). This arrest marks the third in the ongoing investigation into the alleged disappearance of gold from the temple.
Kumar is accused of a significant lapse in documentation, reportedly recording the guardian deity idols (Dwarapalaka) as copper sheets instead of their actual gold-plated status. This action is believed to have enabled the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, to remove the gold plating. Kumar had been associated with the temple since the 1990s and was reportedly aware of the gold cladding on the sanctum sanctorum and the idols, which was carried out between 1998 and 1999.
The SIT is currently investigating two separate cases related to the missing gold, one concerning the Dwarapalaka idols and another involving the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum). Both sets of items were entrusted to Potty for electroplating in 2019.
The controversy first surfaced in September when the Special Commissioner for Sabarimala reported to the High Court that gold-inlaid copper panels, covering the Dwarapalaka sculptures, were moved out of the temple premises for renovation without proper authorization. The High Court later revealed that the returned gold-plated panels and pedestals weighed significantly less than their original weight, indicating a potential misappropriation of gold. Further scrutiny also found that these panels were incorrectly documented as ‘copper sheets’ in official records.
Meanwhile, political tensions have arisen, with the Kerala opposition staging a walk-out from the Assembly in protest against the temple theft case, demanding the resignation of the Devaswom board minister.
Investigators are continuing their efforts, with Sudheesh Kumar set to be produced in court. The SIT has also questioned Vasudevan, an associate of Potty, who allegedly held custody of additional gold-clad pedestals that were later recovered.