Former Sabarimala Executive Officer Sudheesh Kumar Arrested in Gold Theft Case

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Sabarimala Executive Officer D. Sudheesh Kumar has been arrested in connection with the gold theft from the temple’s guardian deity’s sculpted panel (dwarapalaka shilpapali). He is the third accused in the case. The special investigation team (SIT) had questioned Sudheesh Kumar earlier, and reports had indicated that he might be arrested on Saturday.The questioning, which continued late into Friday night, led to his arrest soon after.
According to investigation sources, Sudheesh is suspected to have played a key role in the conspiracy. He allegedly knew that the sculpted panel and the temple’s door frame were gold-plated but still issued a recommendation letter describing them as copper sheets. This letter allowed the items to be handed over to the first accused, Unnikrishnan Potty. In the official seizure records (mahazar), the items were falsely recorded as copper sheets, which investigators say created an opportunity for the gold to be stolen.
The SIT found that Sudheesh also included the names of officials who were not even present during the preparation of the mahazar. Although the record stated that the removed gold-plated panels were directly handed over to Unnikrishnan Potty, Sudheesh is reported to have instead given them to two of Potty’s friends. These actions are now central to the case against him.
Investigators have also recovered records from the Travancore Devaswom Board headquarters related to the gold plating of the Sabarimala temple sanctum (Sreekovil), dating back to 1998–99. The documents are being examined to determine the quantity of gold used and the current remaining amount. Any difference between the two will be used to calculate the extent of the gold missing from the temple.