Sat Oct 25 08:18:48 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a news article rewrite:

Summary:

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Kerala High Court is investigating the misappropriation of gold-plated copper moulds from the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. The investigation focuses on Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime suspect, who allegedly convinced the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to allow him to restore the gilded encasings. The returned moulds were found to have less gold content. The SIT inspected Mr. Potti’s apartment and a jewellery shop in Bengaluru, seizing documents from a businessperson who claimed to have donated gold through Mr. Potti. The SIT believes Potti may have melted the gold or replicated the molds to sell the originals. He also built connections with wealthy devotees, possibly chartering the gilded coverings to them for private worship. A TDB official, Murari Babu, was also arrested for facilitating the theft.

News Article Rewrite:

Gold Theft Investigation Leads to Bengaluru Jewellery Shop Inspection

Thiruvananthapuram, October 25, 2025 – A Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Kerala High Court investigating the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple has broadened its inquiry to Bengaluru, Karnataka. The SIT conducted an inspection of a jewellery shop in the city on Saturday, as part of its investigation into Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime suspect in the case.

Potti is accused of convincing the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to entrust him with the restoration of gold-plated copper moulds encasing the temple’s stone carvings back in 2019. However, upon their return, the refurbished moulds were found to contain significantly less gold than the originals, prompting an internal investigation by the TDB’s vigilance wing.

“The investigation is on the right track,” Devaswom Board Minister V.N. Vasavan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, noting that the High Court is closely monitoring the probe.

Sources familiar with the investigation said the SIT has been in Bengaluru since Thursday, examining Potti’s financial dealings and connections. They inspected his apartment and interviewed the owner of the jewellery shop, who claims to have donated gold through Potti for the creation of a gilded cover for the temple’s sanctum sanctorum door. Documents were seized from the businessperson.

“The SIT would recover every grain of gold filched from the temple,” stated P.S. Prasanth, president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).

Last week, the SIT informed a magistrate court that Potti cultivated relationships with wealthy devotees in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai during his time as an assistant to a priest in Sabarimala. He allegedly used these connections to secure lavish donations to the temple and facilitate temple visits for these wealthy individuals.

The investigation has also uncovered evidence suggesting that Potti may have chartered the gilded coverings to wealthy devotees for private worship. A TDB official, Murari Babu, has been arrested for allegedly facilitating the “gold theft” by misrepresenting the coverings as pure copper before handing them over to Potti’s accomplices.

The case continues to develop, with the SIT focusing on tracing the missing gold and uncovering the full extent of the alleged scheme.

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