Sabarimala Gold Scam: SIT Finds Evidence Against Former TDB President P S Prasanth
Probe team cites evidence against former Travancore Devaswom Board President P S Prasanth: Reports
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P S Prasanth has come under scrutiny in the Sabarimala gold scam after the SIT informed the Kerala High Court that it had collected evidence against him.
The High Court allowed the SIT to register a fresh case or incorporate its findings into the ongoing investigation on the alleged loss of gold during the 2019 replating. "It is for the Special Investigation Team to carry the investigation forward with all diligence and vigour and, if the materials so warrant, either register a fresh crime in respect of the transaction relating to the year 2025 or file a further report in the Dwaraka case," the Bench said.
The report submitted by the SIT to the High Court states that substantial materials have been gathered, clearly establishing the involvement of Murari Babu, former Executive Officer of Sabarimala; Unnikrishnan Potty, the sponsor; Pankaj Bhandari, proprietor of Smart Creations, Chennai; P S Prasanth; A Ajikumar, TDB member; Kandararu Rajeevaru, Chief Priest (Tantri) of Sabarimala; and Rejilal, Thiruvananthapuram Commissioner of TDB.
The Crime Branch team has concluded that the actions of the accused, including Prasanth, carried out together and as part of a planned criminal conspiracy, reveal offences such as criminal breach of trust, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
According to the SIT report, the gold-clad Dwarapalaka idols, which had been covered with gold in 1998, were transported to Chennai in 2019 at the behest of the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty. The report alleged that during the replating process in Chennai, the original gold cladding was removed, and only a minimal quantity was used for fresh plating, while the remaining gold was misappropriated.
