A Holy Betrayal? High-Profile Arrest Made in Sabarimala’s Missing Gold Mystery.

Following a series of covert operations, Rajeevaru was initially detained at an undisclosed location for an intense morning interrogation before being transported to the SIT headquarters. His formal arrest was recorded later in the afternoon, signaling that investigators believe they have found actionable evidence linking the Chief Priest to the alleged heist. The breakthrough in the case reportedly hinges on incriminating testimonies provided by the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, along with statements from the former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, A. Padmakumar. These depositions have placed the Tantri at the center of a burgeoning conspiracy involving the mishandling of temple wealth.

Central to the SIT’s findings is the nature of the relationship between Rajeevaru and Potty. Investigative reports suggest a close professional and personal association that may have facilitated the crime. Specifically, the SIT pointed toward Rajeevaru’s official recommendations regarding the maintenance of the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. It is alleged that the Tantri pushed for the replating of the "Dwarapalaka" (guardian deity) plates and the intricate doorframe plates of the "Sreekovil," a process that investigators suspect may have served as a smokescreen for the siphoning of gold. This administrative maneuver is now being scrutinized as a potential method used to substitute genuine gold with inferior materials.

This arrest represents a watershed moment for the administration of one of India’s most visited pilgrimage sites, highlighting a profound breach of trust within the temple’s highest ecclesiastical ranks. As the legal proceedings unfold, the incident has sparked a broader debate regarding the transparency of temple asset management and the oversight of the Travancore Devaswom Board. With the Chief Priest now in custody, the SIT is expected to broaden its probe to determine if a larger syndicate was involved, leaving the faithful and the public awaiting a full accounting of the missing sacred gold.