Shadow over the Sannidhanam: Former Devaswom President Named in Sabarimala Gold Scandal

The Special Investigation Team has moved to implicate former Travancore Devaswom Board President P.S. Prashanth, alleging administrative irregularities and unauthorized removal of gold plates from the Sabarimala temple.

The sanctum sanctorum of Sabarimala, usually a site of singular devotion, is currently at the center of a deepening investigation. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has informed the court that it has gathered evidence linking former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President പി എസ് പ്രശാന്ത് (P.S. Prashanth) to the controversial removal of gold plates from the temple. This development marks a significant escalation in a case that has shadowed the board’s administrative conduct for months.

The Allegations Under Scrutiny

The SIT's latest submission, detailed in an interim report to the High Court, alleges that Prashanth and other board members facilitated the unauthorized transfer of gold plates during their tenure in 2025. The investigation suggests that the temple's Dvarapala sculptures and door frames were dismantled under the guise of maintenance, allegedly to facilitate the removal of their gold coverings. The SIT claims that the board bypassed mandatory protocols, failing to notify the Special Commissioner before dispatching the materials to a private agency in Chennai.

Evidence brought before the court implicates not only the former president but also former board member A. Ajikumar and Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru. The investigative agency suggests that the project was pushed through with undue haste, citing dubious justifications such as the need to prevent pests like rats and cockroaches from entering through gaps in the temple doors. The report also highlights that the late Deputy Devaswom Commissioner, Murari Babu, had submitted the initial proposal that set this controversial process in motion.

Defence and Denials

Responding to the SIT’s move, P.S. Prashanth has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. He contends that there is a broader conspiracy at play, suggesting the involvement of the Chief Minister's office in targeting him. Prashanth insists that the dismantling of the sculptures was video-documented and claims that he only learned of the requirement to notify the court after the work had commenced. He maintains that the gold plates were never handed over to the contractor in the manner the SIT describes, flatly denying the accusations of theft or administrative malpractice.

Why it matters

This case is more than a dispute over temple inventory; it strikes at the heart of the fiduciary trust placed in the Devaswom Board. The governance of Sabarimala requires a delicate balance between ritualistic sanctity and transparent administration. When that balance is disrupted by allegations of "undue haste" and the bypassing of oversight, it fuels public distrust in the management of one of India's most significant pilgrimage sites.

The SIT’s decision to include board members in the suspect list—marking a total of nine potential accused—signals a shift toward holding administrative heads accountable for systemic lapses. As the investigation progresses, the central question remains whether this was a case of procedural negligence or a calculated effort to misappropriate temple assets. For the state, the fallout will likely necessitate a complete overhaul of how the TDB handles the maintenance and auditing of precious temple artifacts.