Overview

• Two FIRs registered under a High Court-ordered investigation cover alleged theft from Dwarapalaka panels and Sreekovil door frames, now handled by a Special Investigation Team.
• Sponsor Unnikrishnan Potti is the first accused, his associate Kalpesh the second, and the 2019 Travancore Devaswom Board led by A. Padmakumar is listed as accused along with nine officials including then commissioner N. Vasu.
• The case cites charges including theft, criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and forgery, with investigators focusing on items taken to a Chennai workshop and recorded as copper plates.
• The High Court noted that about 474.9 grams of gold remained unreturned after the 2019 re-plating, as the vigilance report flags violations of Devaswom rules requiring in-premises work under official supervision.
• The Enforcement Directorate has begun preliminary information-gathering on possible money-laundering, while opposition leaders seek broader temple audits and a CBI probe and Padmakumar pledges cooperation.