Overview
- Former Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar was appointed Travancore Devaswom Board president, a move presented as restoring confidence as the pilgrimage season nears.
- The Ranni court on Friday sent former TDB official Murari Babu to SIT custody, with K.S. Baiju remanded and sought for interrogation, while D. Sudheesh Kumar and prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti remain in custody.
- The SIT arrested ex–Thiruvabharanam Commissioner K.S. Baiju on Thursday, alleging he failed to supervise the 2019 removal and handover of gold-plated coverings to the contractor.
- After reviewing an interim report, the Kerala High Court criticized TDB record-keeping, noted a reported 4 kg weight shortfall in Dwarapalaka coverings returned in 2019, and directed scientific re-examination and consideration of Prevention of Corruption Act provisions.
- Investigators are planning non-destructive metallurgical tests and reweighing to compare original gilded panels with those returned, as Congress and BJP press for a court-monitored CBI probe and schedule protests.