Overview

• The Special Investigation Team under Crime Branch ADGP H. Venkatesh has taken over two Crime Branch cases on missing gold from the idols and Sreekovil door frames and booked the accused under IPC sections 403, 406, 409, 466, 467 and 34.
• Unnikrishnan Potti has been named the first accused and his associate Kalpesh the second, while all members of the 2019 Travancore Devaswom Board have been arraigned as the eighth accused.
• The TDB Vigilance final report filed in the Kerala High Court says Potti lacked a permanent source of income and urges a comprehensive probe into works he sponsored.
• The vigilance findings cite procedural lapses by nine officials for handing over the gold-clad plates in 2019 and note the plates were sent to a Chennai firm in violation of Devaswom manual rules.
• Investigators say officials approved re-coating on September 8, 2025 despite existing High Court orders, and former board president A. Padmakumar has said he will cooperate with the inquiry.