Kerala Devaswom Special Govt. Pleader steps down following controversy over his appointment
K.B. Pradeep, who was appointed as Kerala Devaswom’s Special Government Pleader has resigned for the post. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The recently appointed Devaswom Special government pleader K.B. Pradeep put in his papers on Saturday (June 13, 2026) morning after a political controversy erupted over his appointment. “I volunteered to quit as I didn’t want to embarrass the government in a non-issue,” Mr. Pradeep told The Hindu. Opposition parties had criticised the State government on the appointment of Mr. Pradeep, whom they alleged to have represented the Chennai-based Smart Creations, a firm under the cloud of suspicion in the Sabarimala gold theft case. There were allegations that the gold was removed from the dwarapalaka idols, door frames of the temple and other structures when they were taken for gold plating undertaken by the firm. Pankaj Bhandari, the Chief Executive Officer of the firm was also arrested in the case. The appointment of Mr. Pradeep, according to Opposition political parties, was an attempt to cover up the case and protect the real culprits. Gold-clad plates …
