{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-article-js","path":"/sabarimala-gold-scam-accused-dies-while-on-bail","result":{"data":{"prismicArticle":{"uid":"sabarimala-gold-scam-accused-dies-while-on-bail","tags":["politics"],"first_publication_date":"2026-06-13T10:11:59+0000","last_publication_date":"2026-06-13T10:11:59+0000","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"Sabarimala gold scam accused dies while on bail"},"rating":null,"datetime":"2026-06-13T04:09:00+0000","img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/aMqwz2GNHVfTPUrM_sabarimala.JPG?auto=format,compress"},"embed":{"embed_url":null,"thumbnail_url":null,"author_url":null,"title":null},"content":{"raw":[{"text":"Travancore Devaswom Board's former Administrative Officer and Sabarimala gold scam second accused Murari Babu died at a private hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for cancer, here on Saturday. "},{"text":"Murari Babu was under investigation in connection with the alleged theft of gold-plated panels from the Sabarimala temple’s door frames and 'Dwarapalaka' (guardian deity) sculptures."},{"text":"A native of Perunna in Changanassery, had died at Amrita Hospital after being diagnosed with cancer."},{"text":"The funeral will be held at his residence in Perunna at 3 pm on Saturday."},{"text":"The Special Investigation Team had been probing allegations that gold-plated panels removed from Sabarimala were allegedly misappropriated."},{"text":"Murari Babu, who was suspended from service after being named an accused, had claimed during questioning that the recording of the gold panels as copper was based on a letter from the temple priest."},{"text":"Born into a financially modest family, Murari Babu joined the police as a constable in 1994 but quit before completing training."},{"text":"He later joined the Travancore Devaswom Board in 1997 and rose through the ranks, serving at major temples including Ettumanoor, Vaikom, and Thirunakkara."},{"text":"The Vigilance wing had alleged that Murari Babu accumulated assets worth crores during his tenure in the TDB despite holding a low-level post."},{"text":"Investigators had also looked into the construction of a luxury house at his ancestral property in Changanassery."},{"text":"Several other controversies had also surrounded his tenure."},{"text":"Vigilance had probed alleged irregularities in elephant contracts during major temple festivals and cases involving missing gold and silver articles from temple premises."},{"text":"He had also faced allegations over the handling of a fire incident at the Ettumanoor temple and the fixing of gold-plated ornaments without approval."},{"text":"Despite a High Court directive against posting employees facing allegations in sensitive positions like Sabarimala, Murari Babu was later appointed Administrative Officer there."},{"text":"The Vigilance had also found that he allegedly communicated with a private company regarding gold-plating work on the Dwarapalaka sculptures without informing the Devaswom Board."},{"text":"His death came at a time when investigations and legal proceedings in the Sabarimala gold-related cases are still continuing."}]}}},"relatedArticles":{"edges":[{"node":{"uid":"csk-part-ways-with-batting-coach-hussey","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"CSK part ways with batting coach Hussey"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/1wFXlwQIHVWco4it_mikehussey.JPG?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C129%2C450%2C222&w=2028&h=1000"},"datetime":"2026-10-26T14:30:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"telangana-bill-faces-brs-pushback","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"Telangana Bill Faces BRS 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