Sabarimala Gold Theft Case: Two Officials Under Investigation Transferred to Sections Handling Case Files; Travancore Devaswom Board Move Sparks Controversy
Sabarimala: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has transferred two senior officials, whom the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has sought the Kerala High Court's permission to name as accused in the alleged Sabarimala gold theft case, to key positions that handle files and legal proceedings related to the ongoing investigation.The transfers have drawn criticism, with critics arguing that they could compromise the integrity of the probe.
The officials are R.J. Hemanth, former Assistant Executive Officer at Sabarimala, and S. Sreenivas, former Administrative Officer. Hemanth has been appointed as the Devaswom Liaison Officer for cases before the Kerala High Court, while Sreenivas has been posted as Superintendent in the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner's Office.
Both officials were serving at the Sannidhanam on September 7, 2025, when the Dwarapalaka sculpture panels were removed and sent to Chennai for gold plating. Citing their roles during the period under investigation, the SIT has sought the High Court's permission to include them as accused in the alleged gold theft case, which pertains to the tenure of former Travancore Devaswom Board president P.S. Prashanth.
As Liaison Officer, Hemanth will coordinate matters relating to Devaswom Board cases before the Kerala High Court. The post involves obtaining information and documents submitted by the SIT through the Board's legal counsel, conveying them to the Board, and communicating the Board's position to its counsel. Critics contend that assigning an official facing possible prosecution to such a role could provide advance access to developments in the investigation.
Sreenivas has been posted to the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner's Office, where official records relating to the Dwarapalaka sculpture panels and Kattilappadi (door-frame) panels are maintained. Critics of the transfer argue that placing an official proposed to be named as an accused in charge of records connected to the case could jeopardise the integrity of the investigation and raise concerns over the safeguarding of evidence.
According to media reports, the SIT has already submitted its report before the Kerala High Court seeking permission to add several individuals, including the two officials, as accused in the case. The investigation relates to the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Dwarapalaka sculpture panels at the Sabarimala temple.
With the investigation reportedly in its final stages, the Board's transfer orders have triggered criticism from devotees' organisations and legal observers. They argue that assigning officials facing investigation to positions involving case records and court proceedings could undermine public confidence in the probe.