Overview On December 30, 2025 , the High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) questioned a Dindigal -based businessperson, allegedly known as D. Mani , regarding the criminal misappropriation of gold-plated artifacts from the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple . This investigation highlights issues of cultural heritage, ethical conduct, and economic fraud, relevant to various aspects of the UPSC syllabus. Key Developments Initial Inquiry: The SIT interviewed Mr. Mani based on a statement from a Non-Resident Keralite businessperson, linking him to the illegal trade in religious artifacts. Questioning: Mr. Mani and an acquaintance, Balamurugan , reported to the Crime Branch office in Eanchakkal, Thiruvananthapuram , for questioning. Status: The SIT has not yet named Mr. Mani as an accused in the case, and he maintains his innocence. Expansion of Investigation: The expat businessperson’s deposition, prompted by former Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala , has opened a new line of inquiry, potentially requiring more investigators and an extended deadline. Investigation Focus Mr. Mani's Alleged Activities: The investigation is focusing on allegations that Mr. Mani contacted wealthy collectors, claiming to have idols and other high-value religious artifacts for sale. Antecedents Verification: The SIT is verifying Mr. Mani’s background, including any links to Unnikrishnan Potti , the prime accused in the case. Profiling: The SIT has interviewed acquaintances of Mr. Mani in Tamil Nadu to profile him based on their character statements. Potential Interstate Rackets The SIT suspects its investigation might extend into interstate rackets that sell ordinary objects as rare treasures with magical properties to wealthy collectors. This includes: Pseudoscience: The use of pseudoscience to mislead buyers into believing that objects are made of rare alloys with supernatural properties. Rice Puller Scam: The “rice-puller” scam, which targeted wealthy collectors in Kerala, Karnataka , and Tamil Nadu , involved using hidden magnets and iron shavings to stage fake “magical” demonstrations. UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant to the UPSC syllabus in the following ways: GS1 (Culture): The misappropriation of religious artifacts impacts cultural heritage and societal values. GS2 (Governance): The investigation highlights the role of law enforcement and the effectiveness of SITs in addressing complex crimes. GS3 (Economy): The 'rice-puller' scam and similar fraudulent activities affect the economy and investor confidence. GS4 (Ethics): The ethical dimensions of trading in religious artifacts and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals are relevant. Important Facts The investigation is led by a High Court-appointed SIT . The questioning took place on December 30, 2025 . The businessperson in question is D. Mani , based in Dindigal . The case involves the misappropriation of gold-plated artifacts from the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple . The investigation was triggered by a statement from a Non-Resident Keralite businessperson . The SIT is exploring links to Unnikrishnan Potti , the prime accused. The investigation may involve the 'rice-puller' scam .