Archive · 22 Aug 2026
Sabarimala Gold Loss Case: Prasanth Denied Bail, Ajikumar Granted Relief
A court is investigating whether gold was lost from important decorations at Sabarimala temple.
Former TDB president P S Prasanth and former board member A Ajikumar were arrested in the case.
The court refused bail to Prasanth.
It granted bail to Ajikumar because of his health condition.
Investigators say the temple panels were approved for maintenance and gold plating.
They allege the work was given to Smart Creations despite concerns about recovering and reusing the original gold.
The investigators also say proper procedures for informing the Kerala High Court were not followed.
The investigation team is expected to file charge sheets and give the High Court an update.
A Vigilance court dismissed former TDB president P S Prasanth’s bail petition.
The court granted former TDB member A Ajikumar bail, citing his health condition.
Both men were arrested by the Special Investigation Team on July 23 in the alleged temple-gold loss case.
The SIT alleges the TDB approved sending Sabarimala’s Dwarapalaka panels to Smart Creations for gold plating.
The agency says the decision may have concealed details of gold allegedly lost during 2019 maintenance work.
- Who
- Former TDB president P S Prasanth, former board member A Ajikumar, and the Special Investigation Team are central to the case.
- What
- The court ruled on bail petitions in a case concerning the alleged loss of gold from Sabarimala’s Dwarapalaka idols.
- When
- The arrests took place on July 23; the court ruling was reported on August 22.
- Where
- The ruling was issued by a Vigilance court in Kollam, Kerala, concerning Sabarimala temple.
- Why
- The SIT alleges that decisions about maintenance and gold plating may have concealed facts about gold allegedly lost during earlier work.
SIT allegations
Accused and court position
Maintenance decision
SIT allegations
The SIT alleges that the TDB’s decision to assign the work to Smart Creations violated a requirement to inform the Kerala High Court in advance and was intended to prevent details of the alleged gold loss from emerging.
Accused and court position
The report does not provide a substantive response from Prasanth, Ajikumar, or their lawyers to these allegations. The court’s ruling concerned bail, not a final determination of guilt.
Ajikumar’s detention
SIT allegations
The SIT arrested Ajikumar as the 18th accused in the investigation.
Accused and court position
The court granted him bail after considering his health condition.
- Court
- Vigilance court in Kollam
- Bail ruling
- P S Prasanth was denied bail; A Ajikumar was granted bail because of his health condition.
- Accused numbers
- Prasanth is the 17th accused and Ajikumar the 18th accused, according to the report.
- Arrest date
- Both were arrested by the SIT on July 23.
- Temple items
- Dwarapalaka sculpture panels at Sabarimala were involved in the alleged loss.
- Maintenance decision
- The SIT says the TDB decided on September 2, 2025, to entrust work to Smart Creations.
- Next steps
- The SIT is expected to file charge sheets and submit a progress report to the Kerala High Court next month.