Kochi, Oct. 13 -- The special investigation team (SIT) of the Kerala police, constituted on orders of the Kerala high court to probe the alleged theft of gold assets from the Sabarimala temple, has booked top officials of the previous governing body of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) including its then president and CPI(M) leader A Padmakumar in its FIR in the case, officials familiar with the matter said.

Among those who have been arraigned, apart from Padmakumar, are 2019 TDB president N Vasu and Unnikrishnan Potty, the Bengaluru-based priest-turned-businessman who volunteered to "sponsor" the gold polishing of the panels of 'Dwarapalaka' idols and who is currently at the centre of the row.

Potty has been reportedly booked as the ...