Sabarimala gold case: Kerala Devaswom minister demands withdrawal of TDB circular appointing officials facing probe

K. Muraleedharan | Photo credit: K Ragesh

Kerala Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan said on Monday that he has asked the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to withdraw the recent circular appointing officials facing probe in the Sabarimala gold loss case to key positions on the board.

Speaking to reporters in Guruvayur, Mr. Muraleedharan said that he had written to TDB President K. Jayakumar on Saturday asking for the circular to be withdrawn.

“The board has independent powers and the government cannot directly interfere in its decisions. Even then, I demanded that the circular appointing people facing inquiry in the Sabarimala gold loss case to key posts be withdrawn,” he said.

Mr. Muraleedharan said he believed that Mr. Jayakumar, though appointed by the previous LDF government, was functioning impartially.

“If the circular is not corrected, the state government will assume that the present board is also involved in the gold loss incident,” he said.

The minister said the Devaswom department can decide on the next course of action in the gold loss case only after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submits its charge-sheets in both the cases.

According to him, the SIT is yet to file a charge sheet in two cases related to the alleged loss of gold.

“If any flaws are found in the record sheets, the cabinet will decide on further investigation,” Mr. Muraleedharan said.

“We will intervene if the findings in the records are not satisfactory,” he said.

He also said that more revelations regarding Sabarimala are likely to emerge.

“Former Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan himself has said that more revelations are to come. When new revelations come out, investigations will be conducted based on them,” he said.

Mr. Vasavan had recently hinted that there could be further revelations following reports that former TDB president and ex-MLA A. Padmakumar was writing a book detailing alleged irregularities related to the temple and the entry of two women into the temple following the Supreme Court verdict.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said media reports regarding Mr. Padmakumar’s alleged revelations did not warrant a fresh investigation.

“Padmakumar is the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold loss case. If he makes any revelations, the SIT will check whether they are relevant. There is no need for fresh investigation,” Mr Chennithala told reporters.

The minister noted that Mr. Padmakumar, who was arrested by the SIT, has secured statutory bail after 90 days in custody.

Published – 15 Jun 2026 13:33 IST