Second arrest in Sabarimala gold ‘theft’: Ex-Devaswom officer Murari Babu held

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Devaswom Board administrative officer B Murari Babu was arrested in connection with the Sabarimala gold scam on Thursday morning.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) took Murari Babu into custody at 10 pm on Wednesday, following questioning at the Crime Branch office in Eanchakkal, Thiruvananthapuram.

The SIT is expected to produce him in the Ranni court later on Thursday and is likely to file a petition in court seeking custody of Babu for detailed interrogation. He is an accused in two cases related to the disappearance of gold from the gold-clad plates of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple.The arrest is a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the Sabarimala gold scam conspiracy.

Earlier, the SIT had arrested sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty in connection with the case.  The arrests of other Devaswom personnel involved in the suspected fraud are expected soon.

All nine suspects are currently under the surveillance of the Crime Branch, and additional detentions are possible, sources added.

Babu, who was serving as an administrative officer, allegedly misreported gold-plated layers on the Dwarapala sculptures at the shrine as copper. He was suspended earlier pending investigation.

On June 17, 2019, Babu recorded that the plates on the dwarapalakas were copper and handed them to the Sabarimala Executive Officer. Unnikrishnan Potty then took them for gold plating.

Even in 2024, while serving again as Sabarimala Executive Officer, Babu reportedly recommended giving the next round of maintenance of the dwarapalaka gold plates directly to Potty. The Devaswom Board rejected the proposal and decided to send the items directly to Chennai for work instead.

Babu facilitated Potty’s involvement in the gold plating process once more, linking both men to the continuing probe.