Former Sabarimala Officer Murari Babu Taken Into Custody in Temple Gold Misappropriation Case

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 2025 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold misappropriation case has taken former Sabarimala Administrative Officer Murari Babu into custody. Officials said he was detained from his residence in Kottayam district around 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Babu, a senior official of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), was in charge of the Sabarimala temple’s administration when the alleged gold plating scam came to light in 2019. He was subsequently suspended by the Board after irregularities were detected.

Following his detention, Babu was brought to the SIT’s camp office in Thiruvananthapuram for questioning. Officials said further procedures, including a possible formal arrest, would be decided after his interrogation.

According to investigators, Babu is accused in cases related to the theft and illegal transport of gold-plated panels and frames from the Sabarimala temple. The SIT had registered two separate FIRs in connection with the case, naming 10 accused, including the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, who has already been arrested. Babu has been listed as an accused in both FIRs.

The investigation has so far revealed that the alleged conspiracy stretched from 2019 to 2024, with Babu believed to be a key link in facilitating and concealing the misappropriation. It was during his tenure as Administrative Officer in 2019 that the practice of replacing gold plating with copper plating on the temple’s Dwarapalaka (gatekeeper) panels and wooden frames allegedly began.

Investigators also suspect that official records were forged under his supervision to conceal the replacement of materials.

However, Babu has consistently denied all allegations, claiming he acted in accordance with official procedures. He has maintained that the mention of copper plating in the mahazar (official inspection record) was based on a written directive from the temple’s Tantri (chief priest). “I only submitted a preliminary report. Final decisions and approvals came from higher authorities,” he has stated in his defence.

Meanwhile, the SIT continues to record statements from temple officials, security personnel, and other staff who were on duty during the removal of the gold panels.

The prime accused, Potti, has been remanded to SIT custody until October 30. Investigators are also expected to travel to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai to gather additional evidence related to the interstate aspects of the case.