{"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":"police-crack-secunderabad-armoury-heist","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"Police crack Secunderabad armoury heist"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/6b36GonXnUvj2s4W_armoury.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=0,16,450,222&w=2028&h=1000"},"datetime":"2026-09-11T06:30:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"ap-welfare-schemes-get-a-family-twist","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"AP Welfare Schemes Get a Family Twist!"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/AWnCpMJM0df0xz8M_cbn.JPG?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C6%2C450%2C222&w=2028&h=1000"},"datetime":"2026-09-11T11:30:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"brs-student-wings-assembly-siege-foiled","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"BRS Student Wing's Assembly Siege Foiled"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/Y6DqEv6WA_xM8rw1_BRSyouthwing.JPG?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C78%2C450%2C222&w=2028&h=1000"},"datetime":"2026-09-10T22:44:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"trump-congress-may-not-need-to-clear-5000-payout","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"Trump: Congress may not need to clear $5,000 payout"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad%2Fa27ad4e8-4048-481c-91f3-63c1a34188f4_donald+trump.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C1%2C1200%2C592&w=2028&h=1000"},"datetime":"2026-09-11T03:00:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"us-proposes-end-to-h-1b-job-loss-grace","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"US proposes end to H-1B job-loss grace"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/aNFVfZ5xUNkB0-bC_H1Bvisa.JPG?auto=format,compress"},"datetime":"2026-09-10T18:30:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"eci-recognises-tvk-as-state-party-in-tn","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"ECI recognises TVK as state party in TN"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/ac6CCpGXnQHGZNT__tvk.JPG?auto=format,compress"},"datetime":"2026-09-10T11:45:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"jagan-pushes-cbi-probe-lokesh-exit","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"Jagan Pushes CBI Probe, Lokesh Exit"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/YAGoGzJInk1ORKL8_jagan.JPG?auto=format,compress"},"datetime":"2026-09-10T09:51:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"madhu-yaskhi-gets-national-congress-role","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"Madhu Yaskhi Gets National Congress Role"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/25318f27-c7d4-4008-9a8e-4233ea00f3fb_madhu+yashki.JPG?auto=format,compress"},"datetime":"2026-09-09T19:05:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"trumps-5000-midterm-gamble","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"Trump’s $5,000 Midterm Gamble"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad%2Feff86a8b-901c-44b3-a1fe-d359b959cc91_trump.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C34%2C1920%2C947&w=2028&h=1000"},"datetime":"2026-09-10T04:42:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"jagan-to-launch-padyatra-in-sep-oct-2027","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"Jagan to launch Padyatra in Sep-Oct 2027"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/a8D0w1EIjxV3gsza_jaganpadayatra.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=0,0,2028,1000&w=2028&h=1000"},"datetime":"2026-09-09T13:45:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"brs-mlas-suspended-till-session-end","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"BRS MLAs Suspended Till Session End"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/Wm9gX5GX_wAp32A3_BRSMLAS.JPG?auto=format,compress"},"datetime":"2026-09-09T06:15:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"us-open-shelton-upsets-alcaraz-in-thrilling-qf","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"US Open: Shelton upsets Alcaraz in thrilling qf"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/ynHICTU70E73s6ex_Shelton.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=0,42,1200,592&w=2028&h=1000"},"datetime":"2026-09-08T21:55:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"ap-offers-free-power-for-ganesh-pandals","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"AP Offers Free Power for Ganesh Pandals"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/ef04dd04-5b26-45f2-9387-bcc2ab08a0bc_ganesh+chavithi.JPG?auto=format,compress"},"datetime":"2026-09-09T07:32:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"brs-leaders-face-fresh-fir","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"BRS Leaders Face Fresh FIR"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/BCzJeOwvwHJv6i-o_BRSleaders.JPG?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C40%2C450%2C222&w=2028&h=1000"},"datetime":"2026-09-09T05:25:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"sir-in-ap-wolf-above-the-flood","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"ఏపీలో ఎస్ఐఆర్ (SIR): ప్రవాహానికి ఎగువన తోడేలు?"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/ajzc61bRV8_Qf22w_sir.JPG?auto=format,compress"},"datetime":"2026-09-09T06:29:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"meta-ran-300-ai-child-abuse-ads","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"Meta Ran 300+ AI Child Abuse Ads"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/Z7rb757c43Q3gGjp_meta.JPG?auto=format,compress"},"datetime":"2026-09-08T15:00:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"cpim-to-fight-ed-move-against-vijayan-legally-poli","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"CPI(M) to fight ED move against Vijayan legally, politically"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/dfb6f2bd-6dd3-46a0-a060-69c613b1fc75_vijayan.JPG?auto=format,compress"},"datetime":"2026-09-08T16:35:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"trump-backs-new-h-1b-fee-push","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"Trump Backs New H-1B Fee Push"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/aXEFSAIvOtkhByE7_trumpamerica.JPG?auto=format,compress"},"datetime":"2026-09-08T02:29:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"pk-a-chance-leader-in-amaravati-politics","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"పీకే: అమరావతి రాజకీయాల్లో ఒక 'యాదృచ్ఛిక' నేత?"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad%2F19fdc093-ed0e-43a0-97f8-534e9150800a_pawan+rejected.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C16%2C1200%2C592&w=2028&h=1000"},"datetime":"2026-09-07T18:31:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"bombay-hc-refuses-to-nix-defamation-case-against-r","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"Bombay HC refuses to nix defamation case against RaGa"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/aUUbC3NYClf9ofpW_RaGaprotest.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=0,0,2028,1000&w=2028&h=1000"},"datetime":"2026-09-08T07:43:00+0000"}}},{"node":{"uid":"brs-mlas-booked-for-assaulting-police","data":{"third_party_url":null,"title":{"text":"BRS MLAs booked for assaulting police"},"img":{"url":"https://images.prismic.io/prad/I5ApVf8ty4qfTvs9_BRSMLAs.JPG?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C12%2C448%2C221&w=2028&h=1000"},"datetime":"2026-09-08T09:41:00+0000"}}}]}},"pageContext":{"isCreatedByStatefulCreatePages":false,"uid":"sabarimala-gold-scam-accused-dies-while-on-bail","tags":["politics"]}}