Sabarimala Gold Theft Case: Fake Agreement Created to Transport Gold-Plated Sheets; Remand Report Reveals Evidence of P.S. Prasanth's Direct Involvement
Thiruvananthapuram: The remand report in the Sabarimala gold theft case states that there is evidence showing the direct involvement of former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President P.S. Prasanth. According to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), there is evidence that P.S. Prasanth and former Board member A. Ajikumar conspired in the case. The report alleges that they deliberately neglected their official duties and created a fake agreement to transport the gold-plated panels to Chennai under the pretext of repair work.
The report also states that Thiruvabharanam Commissioner Rajilal had earlier informed the Devaswom Board that Chennai-based Smart Creations did not have the facility to remove and re-plate the gold from the Sabarimala panels. Rajilal submitted this report to the Devaswom Secretary on July 30, 2025, recommending that the traditional method be followed for gold plating. However, the report says that P.S. Prasanth rejected Rajilal's recommendation and instructed that the panels be taken to Chennai.
As Board President, Prasanth intervened and wrote to the Devaswom Secretary directing that the panels be transported to Chennai. The SIT alleges that Rajilal was pressured into giving a favourable recommendation. According to the remand report, the Board meeting held on August 2, 2025, subsequently approved the proposal. The report further alleges that forged documents were prepared to facilitate the transportation of the panels to Chennai.
According to the remand report, there was no legally valid contract in place at the time the panels were transported. After the panels reached Chennai, Unnikrishnan Potti allegedly purchased stamp paper from Ballari on August 8, 2025, and a fabricated agreement was signed on August 10. The report further alleges that gold was separated from four of the twelve panels taken to Chennai.
The SIT claims that the accused conspired to conceal the alleged gold theft that took place in 2019. The remand report also alleges that P.S. Prasanth and A. Ajikumar acted in a manner that led to the continued loss of gold belonging to the Sabarimala temple.
According to the report, gold was separated from four of the twelve sheets taken to Chennai. Investigators believe the accused conspired to conceal the alleged gold theft that took place in 2019, causing wrongful financial loss to the Travancore Devaswom Board. The report also alleges that the accused acted to provide substantial financial gain to Pankaj Bhandari, the owner of Smart Creations.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has further sought a detailed investigation into the role of Devaswom Board employees who served between 2020 and 2025, stating that their involvement should also be thoroughly examined.