Sabarimala Gold Theft Case: P.S. Prashanth Taken into Custody from Thiruvananthapuram Home; Defends His Actions in Facebook Post
Thiruvananthapuram: Former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President P.S. Prashanth has been taken into police custody by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case. He was taken into custody from his residence in Thiruvananthapuram and was subsequently taken to the Crime Branch office for further proceedings. Prashanth is the third Travancore Devaswom Board president appointed during the Pinarayi Vijayan government's tenure to be taken into police custody in connection with the case.
According to the SIT, the 2025 removal and gold plating of the Dwarapalaka (door guardian) sculptures was allegedly carried out to conceal the 2019 gold theft case. The investigation has concluded that there was criminal breach of trust and conspiracy in the matter.
Hours before being taken into custody, Prashanth wrote on Facebook that he expected to be arrested at any moment and alleged that political pressure from the state government was behind the move. He also stated that he would fully cooperate with the investigation and legal proceedings.
Key Points from P.S. Prashanth's Facebook Post
• Prashanth questioned what wrongdoing his Board had committed in 2025, arguing that it was his Board that helped bring the 2019 Sabarimala gold theft to light through transparent actions.
• He claimed that despite acting honestly, his Board has now been made an accused in the case.
• He alleged that his arrest is politically motivated but said he respects the Constitution and the judiciary and will cooperate fully with the court-monitored investigation.
• He maintained that the 2025 renovation and gold plating of the Dwarapalaka sculptures caused no financial loss to the Devaswom Board, nor were any procedures intentionally violated.
• According to him, the only lapse was that the Special Commissioner was not informed before the sculptures were taken for restoration, which he described as an administrative mistake by officials rather than the Board.
Timeline Presented by Prashanth
• Before his Board took office: He said files regarding repairs to the temple door, door frames, and Dwarapalaka sculptures had already been initiated by the Sabarimala Executive Officer, six months before his Board assumed office.
• After assuming office in November 2023: Temple staff repeatedly complained that cracks in the Dwarapalaka sculptures were causing injuries while cleaning the sanctum after ghee abhishekam, leading to ritual impurity.
• March 2024: The Board instructed the Sabarimala Administrative Officer to begin legal procedures to repair the sculptures.
• September 2024: Officials recommended sending the electroplated sculptures to Chennai through the sponsor for repairs. Instead, the Board directed that Devaswom officials, in the presence of Vigilance officials, should transport the sculptures, oversee the restoration, and reinstall them.
• Prashanth claimed that at that time no Vigilance or official report had indicated any gold theft or irregularities involving the sculptures.
• September 7, 2025: The sculptures were removed in the presence of the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, Vigilance officials, and other officers. Their weight and gold content were recorded in a mahazar, the entire process was video-recorded, and they were transported to Chennai under official security.
• He denied allegations that Unnikrishnan Potti was allowed to handle or access the sculptures.
• The Kerala High Court later temporarily halted the restoration work after learning that the Special Commissioner had not been informed. After the Devaswom Board Secretary apologised for the procedural lapse, the Court allowed the work to continue.
• Following restoration, the sculptures were brought back and reinstalled. According to Prashanth, their total weight and gold content had increased, and the Devaswom Board suffered no financial loss.
Allegations Regarding the 2019 Gold Theft
Prashanth alleged that the 2019 theft came to light only after Unnikrishnan Potti made allegations in September 2025 regarding ceremonial supports ("Thaang Peedams"). He claimed that a subsequent Vigilance investigation recovered the ceremonial supports from the house of Potti's sister, leading investigators to uncover the 2019 theft.
He said it was only after the High Court sought the 2019 files, which his Board produced, that the alleged irregularities from 2019 came to light. According to him, there had been no public controversy over the matter before then.
Defence Against the SIT's Findings
Prashanth argued that:
• His Board had no prior knowledge of any alleged irregularities from 2019 when it approved the restoration work.
• The responsibility to inform the Special Commissioner lay with Devaswom officials, not with the Board President or members.
• The Board relied on reports submitted by Devaswom officials and Vigilance authorities while making its decisions.
• All restoration work was carried out transparently, in the presence of officials, with proper documentation and video recording.
• His Board submitted all documents sought by the High Court and later by the SIT, which, he argued, would not have happened if there had been any attempt to protect those involved.
Concluding his post, Prashanth said he has no regrets about authorising the restoration of the Dwarapalaka sculptures to eliminate ritual impurity before Lord Ayyappa's sanctum. While acknowledging the personal hardship caused by the case, he expressed confidence that the truth would ultimately prevail.