Sabarimala gold scam: Third LDF-era Devaswom Board named by SIT
Synopsis
The SIT probing the Sabarimala gold misappropriation case has now named a third consecutive LDF-era Travancore Devaswom Board as accused — stretching a conspiracy the agency says began in 2019 across three administrations. With the Kerala High Court monitoring timelines and more accused expected, the case is becoming the most consequential temple administration scandal in Kerala's recent history.
Key Takeaways
The SIT named former TDB President P.S.
Prasanth , former member A.
Ajikumar , former Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru , and Pankaj Bhandari of Smarts Creation as accused on 29 June .
This is the third consecutive LDF-era Travancore Devaswom Board to face criminal proceedings in the Sabarimala gold misappropriation case.
The SIT alleges the conspiracy originated in 2019 and continued through successive Board administrations under the CPI-M-led LDF government.
Charges include criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents, and criminal conspiracy .
All accused from earlier phases have been released on bail after the SIT missed the statutory charge-sheet deadline; one accused has since passed away.
The SIT is investigating two FIRs covering alleged gold diversion from the Kattilappally and Dwarapalaka ornaments, with more accused and cases expected.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged Sabarimala temple gold misappropriation case on Monday, 29 June named former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President P.S. Prasanth, former Board member A. Ajikumar, and other then-serving Board members as accused — making this the third consecutive TDB to face criminal proceedings in one of Kerala's most closely watched temple administration cases.
Who Has Been Named
The latest FIR names P.S. Prasanth, who held the TDB presidency from 2023 after switching allegiance from the Indian National Congress (Congress) to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) following an unsuccessful bid in the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections. Also named are former Board member A. Ajikumar, former Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, and Pankaj Bhandari, proprietor of Smarts Creation. The accused face charges of criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents, and criminal conspiracy.
A Conspiracy Spanning Three Boards
According to the SIT, the alleged gold misappropriation — which surfaced publicly last year following allegations of diversion from temple ornaments — was not an isolated act but the culmination of a conspiracy that reportedly originated in 2019 and continued through successive Board administrations. The agency alleges the scheme was executed in stages, resulting in large-scale irregularities in the handling, accounting, and movement of Sabarimala temple gold.
The investigation's earlier phases had already named former TDB President Padmakumar and the Board under him as accused. Subsequently, N. Vasu, who became TDB President in 2019, was arrested. The inclusion of Prasanth's Board now brings a third successive administration under criminal scrutiny — all of them functioning during the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government under then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is currently the Leader of the Opposition.
Status of Earlier Accused
All individuals arrested during the earlier phases of the investigation have since been released on bail, reportedly after the SIT failed to file its final charge sheet within the statutory period. Notably, one accused who had been released on bail passed away earlier this month, according to reports.
What the SIT Told the High Court
Appearing before the Kerala High Court on Monday, the SIT stated that the list of accused would be expanded further as the investigation progresses and that additional FIRs may be registered based on fresh evidence. The agency is currently probing two FIRs relating to the alleged diversion of gold from the Kattilappally and Dwarapalaka ornaments. The SIT also informed the court that it would update the bench on Tuesday regarding the timeline for filing final charge sheets.
What Comes Next
The expansion of the accused list significantly raises both the legal and political stakes in the Sabarimala gold case. With the probe now spanning three Devaswom Board administrations and the SIT signalling further additions, the investigation is expected to intensify in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Even as it expands its accused list. Prasanth's political journey — Congress to CPI-M, then straight to the TDB presidency — will invite scrutiny of how party-aligned appointments are made to temple boards in Kerala. The Kerala High Court's active monitoring is the only credible check on whether this investigation delivers accountability or simply accumulates FIRs.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sabarimala gold misappropriation case?
The Sabarimala gold misappropriation case involves allegations of large-scale diversion and irregular handling of gold from ornaments at the Sabarimala temple, managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board. The case first surfaced last year and the SIT alleges the conspiracy began as early as 2019, continuing across three successive Board administrations.
Who has been named as accused in the latest SIT action?
The SIT has named former TDB President P.S. Prasanth, former Board member A. Ajikumar, former Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, and Pankaj Bhandari, proprietor of Smarts Creation, among others. They face charges of criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents, and criminal conspiracy.
Why is P.S. Prasanth's inclusion politically significant?
Prasanth was originally a Congress leader who joined the CPI-M after losing the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections and was subsequently appointed TDB President in 2023. His naming as an accused, alongside two earlier LDF-era Boards, links the alleged irregularities directly to successive administrations of the CPI-M-led Left government under then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
What is the current status of those arrested earlier in the case?
All individuals arrested during the earlier phases of the investigation have been released on bail, reportedly because the SIT did not file its final charge sheet within the legally mandated period. One of the accused who was on bail passed away earlier this month.
What happens next in the investigation?
The SIT told the Kerala High Court on 29 June that it would inform the bench on Tuesday about the timeline for filing final charge sheets. The agency has also indicated that the accused list will be expanded and additional FIRs may be registered as fresh evidence emerges.
