Thiruvananthapuram: In a significant development in the ongoing investigations into gold theft at Sabarimala, former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A. Pathmakumar has been formally booked in the Dwarapalaka sculpture gold theft case, marking his second major criminal charge linked to temple assets.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing multiple gold-related irregularities at Sabarimala, arrested Pathmakumar after uncovering evidence suggesting his involvement in the removal and misappropriation of gold plated on the Dwarapalaka (gatekeeper) idols at the Sreekovil. According to the probe team, he allegedly facilitated the gold theft and extended assistance to Unnikrishnan Potty, another key accused in the case.
With this arrest, Pathmakumar is now an accused in both the high-profile gold theft cases the earlier Kattilapalli gold theft and the current Dwarapalaka gold misappropriation intensifying scrutiny over his role during his tenure at the TDB.
The investigation team has submitted a detailed report in the second case while also seeking an extension of Pathmakumar’s remand. The report outlines evidence indicating that the gold covering on the Dwarapalaka sculptures, which had been entrusted to a potter for work in 2019, was removed and replaced improperly, leading to the loss of precious metal.
In his bail application, Pathmakumar has argued that the decisions regarding the gold work were recorded in the Devaswom Board minutes with the full knowledge of all board members. He claims he is being unfairly targeted while two other board members who approved the decision have been left out of the investigation.
The court is scheduled to hear his bail plea on December 8.
The case has triggered renewed debate over transparency and accountability in temple administration, with investigators expected to continue tightening their probe into the suspected network behind the gold thefts.