Kollam (Keralam): In a major development in the Sabarimala gold theft case, former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P S Prasanth has been arrested. The arrest was formally recorded following interrogation at the Kollam Police Club. Former board member Adv A Ajikumar, who was also taken into custody by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), is expected to be arrested shortly as well.

A team led by Crime Branch SP S Sasidharan is currently interrogating both individuals. P S Prasanth was taken into SIT custody earlier today from his residence in Enikkara, Thiruvananthapuram. Following his detention, the investigation team picked up Ajikumar as well.

The police team intercepted Ajikumar, a native of Kayamkulam, while he was travelling to Thiruvananthapuram. Prasanth had earlier hinted on Facebook that his arrest was imminent. Following interrogation and medical examinations, both will be produced before the court.

The current action pertains to irregularities surrounding the dispatch of gold-plated plates of the ‘Dwarapalaka’ (door keeper) sculptures to Smart Creations in Chennai for gold-plating. The investigation team revealed that the gold-plated items were transported out of the state without informing either the Special Commissioner appointed by the High Court or the Devaswom Bench.

According to the report submitted to the court by the SIT, the board headed by P S Prasanth made this move in 2025 to cover up a large-scale gold theft that took place in or before 2019.

However, P S Prasanth maintained that it was his governing body that uncovered the 2019 theft and argued that the procedural flaws were merely technical errors, a contention rejected by the investigation team.

Earlier arrests in connection with the case involved Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru and former Devaswom Board presidents A Padmakumar and N Vasu, who were questioned and arrested before being released on bail.