Overview
- The SIT took former Travancore Devaswom Board president and ex-commissioner N. Vasu into custody on November 11, and a court remanded him to 14 days in judicial custody.
- Investigators allege Vasu directed officials in 2019 to misclassify gilded panels as copper and allowed gold-plated casings to be removed for “repairs” in Chennai.
- Two FIRs cover suspected losses from the sanctum door frames and the Dwarapalaka idols, with earlier arrests of prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti and three TDB officials.
- Only 576 grams of gold has been recovered so far, and the High Court‑monitored probe includes court‑approved scientific examinations to determine the extent of loss.
- With political criticism intensifying, the government has appointed retired IAS officer K. Jayakumar as TDB president from November 14 ahead of the Mandalam–Makaravilakku season starting November 17.