Sabarimala gold theft: Prashanth now in dock, remanded

KOLLAM: Former Travancore Devaswom Board president P.S. Prashanth became the latest one to be implicated in the Sabarimala gold theft case along with then board member Ajikumar. He is the third former Devaswom Board president to be arrested in connection with the loot case.

When the team led by the Circle Inspector reached his house in Karakulam, Thiruvananthapuram at 8:30 am, Prashanth was not at home. His wife informed the police of the arrival and asked Prashanth to reach home soon. Prashanth arrived at 8.50 am. Police told them that the next step would be taking him into custody. The officials asked if he wanted to eat anything, but Prashanth refused. Prashanth was then taken to the Kollam Police Club. He reached there at 11 am. The head of the investigation team, SP S. Sasidharan, was waiting.

As requested by the police, Ajikumar also reached the police club. Under the SP's leadership, both of them were questioned together and separately. Prashanth reiterated that it was a technical glitch that made him not seek permission from the High Court Devaswom Bench and the Special Commissioner and denied any involvement in the loot.

He was taken to the district hospital at around 5.30, and a medical examination was conducted. He was produced at the Vigilance Judge's official residence. Judge Dr C.S.Mohit remanded him for 14 days.

Kollam Vigilance Court Prosecutor Siju Rajan appeared for the SIT. When the Kollam police took him out of the club, Yuva Morcha activists threw eggs at Prashanth.

1. In 2019, Prashanth carried out illegal activities to hide the gold theft committed by Unnikrishnan Potty, the then Devaswom Board President and members by removing the layers of the Dwarapalaka sculpture and to prevent the real amount of the loot from being revealed.

2. Based on Murari Babu's letter that the gold plating had lost its lustre, Prashanth instructed the then Thiruvabharanam Commissioner Rejilal to take the layers to Chennai Smart Creations.

3. Rejilal wrote to the Devaswom Board Secretary to discuss with the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, Devaswom Law Officer and Executive Officer along with the date of removal. This was ignored.

4. The High Court order to inform the Court through the Sabarimala Special Commissioner was also not complied with. The board convened a meeting on September 2, 2025 and decided to take the layers to Smart Creations.

5. The agreement should have been signed with the repairers before the gold layers were removed. After the layers were taken to Smart Creations in Chennai, Unnikrishnan Potty signed a fake agreement between the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner and Potty on seal paper purchased from Bellary on September 8, 2025. Prashanth was complicit in this.