SIT to Question Former Devaswom Board Secretary in Sabarimala Gold Missing Case

Pathanamthitta: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the disappearance of gold from the Sabarimala temple will soon question former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) secretary S. Jayashree, after her anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Pathanamthitta District and Principal Sessions Court on Thursday.

Jayashree, a native of Chennithala in Alappuzha, was an active member of the Thiruvithamkoor Devaswom Employees’ Front, a Congress-affiliated organization. She is listed as the fourth accused in the case related to the missing gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idol plates.

Officials said that the SIT had earlier issued a summons to Jayashree last month for questioning, but she failed to appear and later approached the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The High Court, however, directed her to move the Pathanamthitta District and Principal Sessions Court instead.

During the hearing, Jayashree expressed concern that she might be arrested by the SIT despite her health issues. She maintained that she had no role in the loss of the gold and denied any wrongdoing.

The SIT, in its submission, alleged that Jayashree, while serving as TDB secretary in 2019, had signed the order that allowed the Dwarapalaka plates to be handed over to the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty. The order reportedly described the plates as copper even though they were gold-plated, enabling the accused to misappropriate the gold.

Considering the serious nature of the allegations, the court dismissed Jayashree’s anticipatory bail plea, paving the way for her interrogation by the SIT.

So far, the investigation team has arrested five people. The SIT, following directions from the Kerala High Court, is currently probing two separate cases — one related to the gold missing from the Dwarapalaka idol plates, and another involving the doorframe of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) at Sabarimala.