Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leaders have demanded a court-monitored CBI investigation into the alleged gold theft at Sabarimala temple, accusing the Kerala government of a major cover-up involving top officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).
Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithala described the Kerala High Court’s observation linking the Sabarimala gold theft to possible international gold smuggling as “extremely serious” and called for an independent probe.
“The case must be transferred to the CBI under court supervision. The current investigation is mere eyewash meant to scapegoat a few and protect those really involved,” he said. Chennithala also urged that the roles of all Devaswom presidents, board members, and senior officials during the period of the theft, along with the three Devaswom Ministers in office at the time, be thoroughly examined.
Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan echoed the call, highlighting that the High Court had found the present Devaswom Board to have committed serious offences. “The current Board President and members should be questioned by the SIT. Instead of removing those responsible, the government is extending their tenure. Every fraud at Sabarimala has occurred with full knowledge of the state government and the CPI(M),” he alleged.
Satheesan also criticised the role of ‘sponsor’ Unnikrishnan Potti, who was entrusted with temple gold plates for a second time in violation of court orders, despite earlier corruption charges. “The High Court has expressed doubts that the Board may have misled the court and even hinted that temple valuables could have been sold internationally,” he said, demanding a court-supervised audit of all Sabarimala assets, including gold.
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal echoed concerns over the SIT’s progress, calling for a decisive, court-monitored CBI investigation. “Previous probes have reached nowhere. The SIT must act decisively and question all involved,” he said.
So far, the SIT has arrested three people: Potti, serving TDB official Murari Babu, and retired officer Sudheesh Kumar. On Wednesday, the SIT submitted its report on the probe, which the High Court deemed satisfactory.
Congress leaders emphasised that only an impartial, court-supervised investigation could restore public confidence in the management of one of Kerala’s most revered temples.
With IANS inputs