Ex-TDB chief fears arrest, alleges political vendetta in Sabarimala gold case

The HinduIndependentCenter4 hr. ago

The Kerala High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has detained former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P.S. Prasanth for questioning in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case. This follows Prasanth's earlier claim on Facebook that he was about to be arrested. The SIT is investigating allegations that the TDB, under Prasanth's leadership during the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, used fabricated reasons to send gold-plated copper panels to a Chennai factory for electroplating, potentially to conceal an earlier gold theft. The SIT is scrutinizing the TDB's decision, which was repeated in 2019, and is examining whether the factory's warranty, issued solely in the name of the accused, omitted the TDB as the temple's custodian. The SIT has also sought expert analysis to compare the original gold plating with the reprocessed panels to determine if gold was stolen.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced account of the investigation into alleged misconduct by the TDB, including both the actions of the SIT and the defense provided by Prasanth. It does not overtly favor one political faction over another, though it highlights the controversy surrounding the LDF-led TDB.

Hindustan TimesIndependentProgressive5 hr. ago

Former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P S Prasanth has expressed fear of imminent arrest in connection with a probe into the Sabarimala gold theft case, alleging political motivation behind the investigation. In a Facebook post, he claims that the TDB, which he led with transparency, has become an accused in the case involving gold lost from Dwarapalaka idols and doorframes of the Sabarimala temple in 2019. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is investigating both the 2019 incident and a similar electroplating activity in 2025 during his tenure. Prasanth asserts that the government is exerting political pressure to target him, despite his claim that the board did not suffer financial loss and that the gold content in the sculptures increased after restoration. He denies allegations of withholding information from authorities and maintains that the decision to remove the sculptures for repair was based on prior proposals and complaints about safety issues.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the situation as a politically motivated investigation against a former official, implying that the current government is using the case to target him. The emphasis on 'political pressure' and the portrayal of the TDB's actions as transparent contrast with the accusations against它