A major scandal involving the alleged theft of gold from the sacred structures of the renowned Sabarimala temple has been uncovered by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Kerala. The SIT has informed a vigilance court that a calculated operation involving temple officials, intermediaries, and private jewellers led to the stripping and diversion of gold from the temple's sanctum sanctorum.
The Elaborate Scheme of Removal and Replacement
According to the detailed SIT report, the illicit activity took place in 2019. Gold-plated copper sheets that were an integral part of the temple's inner sanctum were removed under the false pretext of necessary repairs. Investigators state that these sacred items, which included ornamental panels depicting the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu, zodiac symbols, the sanctum door lintel, and the prabhamandalam (the arch behind the idol), were deliberately misrepresented as ordinary copper sheets to facilitate their removal from the temple premises.
The SIT alleges that once removed, these sheets were taken to a private workshop in Chennai, where the gold was chemically stripped off. To conceal the entire act of theft, the sheets were then re-plated with a fresh layer of gold and returned to the temple. This action caused a significant unlawful loss to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the body responsible for managing the temple.
Criminal Breach of Trust and Key Accused
The investigation has framed the case as a severe criminal breach of trust. The SIT emphasized that the extracted gold was neither reported to the devaswom authorities nor returned to the temple treasury. Instead, it was treated as personal property by those involved in the scheme.
The SIT has named several key individuals in its report to the court. These include former TDB president A Padmakumar, devaswom commissioner N Vasu, Sabarimala executive officer Sudheesh Kumar, and administrative officer Murari Babu. From the private sector, the probe has named Pankaj Bhandari, CEO of Chennai-based Smart Creations, and Ballari-based jeweller Roddam Pandu Rangaiah Naga Govardhan. The prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, has also been produced before the court.
Ongoing Investigation and Judicial Process
Multiple arrests have been made in connection with the case, and the accused have been remanded to judicial custody. The SIT has argued in court that police custody interrogation is essential to trace the remaining stolen gold and to establish the complete chain of responsibility. The team is focused on uncovering the full extent of the network and recovering the diverted assets.
This revelation has sent shockwaves through the devotees and the public, raising serious questions about the security and management of one of Kerala's most prominent and revered pilgrimage sites. The vigilance court is now overseeing the next steps in this high-profile investigation into the alleged desecration for financial gain.
