Kochi: Devaswom Board official Murari Babu, who had been undergoing treatment for cancer, died on Friday night at Amrita Hospital. He had been receiving treatment for the disease for the past three months.

Murari Babu had been named as an accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case. He was arrested in connection with the case and was later granted statutory bail after spending 90 days in custody. Police had listed him as the second accused in a case involving the alleged removal of gold from the Dwarapalaka sculptures. In a separate case, he was named as the sixth accused in connection with the alleged theft of gold affixed to the door frames of the temple's sanctum sanctorum.

Hospital authorities confirmed that he died on Friday night while undergoing treatment. Further details regarding funeral arrangements were not immediately available.