The Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is looking into the gold theft at Sabarimala
temple questioned former Thiruvabharanam Commissioner K S Baiju on Saturday, officials said.
The Thiruvabharanam Commissioner is the official responsible for the care and management of
the temple’s sacred ornaments, including gold-plated coverings and other valuable items.
The questioning came after the SIT filed a petition with the Kollam Vigilance Court.
The court approved Baiju’s custody until the evening to allow investigators to question
him further. Baiju, who is now retired, was in charge of the Thiruvabharanam when the
gold-plated coverings of the Dwarapalaka idols, which are the guardian deities of the
temple, were removed in July 2019. These coverings were sent for electroplating, a process
of adding a thin layer of gold to restore or enhance the ornaments.
Officials said the SIT is examining all aspects of the incident, including why the gold-plated
coverings were removed and whether proper procedures were followed. The investigation has
already raised questions about accountability and oversight in the handling of the temple’s
valuable ornaments. Authorities are continuing to question other officials who were involved
in the process to uncover how the gold went missing and to ensure such incidents do not happen
in the future.
The Sabarimala temple, one of India’s most famous pilgrimage sites, houses many valuable
gold and silver ornaments, making security and management of these sacred items a sensitive
and important responsibility. The SIT’s investigation aims to recover any missing valuables
and hold those responsible accountable.