Thiruvananthapuram: Former Travancore Devaswom Board president P S Prasanth was taken into custody by the Special Investigation Team on Thursday in connection with the Sabarimala gold loss case, officials said. The SIT is also questioning former TDB member Aji Kumar and R Rejilal, the Thiruvabharanam (sacred jewellery) Commissioner, sources said.
The SIT is probing two cases relating to the alleged loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the doorframes of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) of the Sabarimala temple after they were taken for electroplating in 2019.
The SIT recently informed the Kerala High Court that it is also probing a similar electroplating exercise carried out in 2025, when Prasanth was the TDB president.
According to sources, Prasanth was taken into custody from his residence in Thiruvananthapuram.
Prasanth headed the board from 2023 to 2025.
He was formerly a Congress leader before associating with CPI(M).
Just before being taken into custody, Prasanth made a Facebook post claiming that he fears imminent arrest and alleged that the move was "politically motivated".
In a recent report filed before the Kerala High Court, the SIT said the probe into the alleged pilfering of gold during the September 2025 electroplating exercise has also been clubbed with the Dwarapalaka idol case.
The investigation team told the court that scientific findings received from the National Metallurgical Laboratory had provided fresh insights and a clearer understanding of the alleged modus operandi adopted by the accused in connection with the 2025 transactions.