Political fallout deepens as court orders probe into missing temple treasure
KERALA, INDIA — A suspected gold theft from the revered Sabarimala temple has ignited a political firestorm in southern India, just as gold prices hit record highs ahead of Diwali. The Kerala High Court has ordered a Special Investigation Team to probe the disappearance of nearly 475 grams of temple gold following a 2019 renovation project—raising serious questions about accountability and corruption.
Temple Treasure Vanishes Sabarimala, one of India’s most visited pilgrimage sites dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, is managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board, which oversees over 1,200 temples across Kerala. The missing gold was part of a renovation effort led by Unnikrishnan Potty, a priest-turned-businessman, who sponsored the replating of gold-clad copper items at a Chennai-based firm.
Court documents reveal that the board recorded the items as mere “copper plates,” despite their gold cladding. Investigators suspect the gold was stripped and misappropriated. The chosen firm, Smart Creations, reportedly lacked the technology to replate pre-clad items, prompting scrutiny over its selection.
Potty was arrested Friday in Thiruvananthapuram and faces charges of theft, criminal breach of trust, and conspiracy. Also implicated are former board president A Padmakumar, two board members, and nine officials.
A Scandal Decades in the Making The roots of the controversy trace back to a 1998 donation by disgraced tycoon Vijay Mallya, who gifted over 30kg of gold and 1,900kg of copper to embellish the temple. Subsequent audits revealed a significant drop in the weight of gold-plated items, suggesting large-scale theft.
The Devaswom Board’s vigilance wing has acknowledged lapses by nine officials and initiated disciplinary action against one. However, current board president PS Prasanth insists the present leadership is not to blame:
“It’s clear that the current board has nothing to do with the issue. Then why are allegations being raised against us?”
Political Blame Game Intensifies Kerala’s temple affairs minister VN Vasavan called the incident “nothing short of theft,” while Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan vowed no protection for wrongdoers. The opposition Congress Party demanded a federal CBI investigation, accusing the government of a cover-up and calling for resignations.
The ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) is under pressure, as Padmakumar is a senior member. He claims he’s being scapegoated:
“There is an attempt to put the entire blame on me. There are other people who are answerable.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP slammed the state government, with central minister V Muraleedharan calling it “daylight robbery” and questioning why Vasavan remains in office.
Devotees Disheartened Sabarimala’s head priest, Kandararu Rajeevaru, welcomed the court’s intervention, calling the scandal “very painful for devotees.” The High Court has mandated a confidential investigation with sealed progress reports, to be completed within six weeks.
Gold Prices and Smuggling Surge The scandal unfolds as India’s gold prices soar to nearly ₹128,000 (£1,082) per 10 grams, fueling a spike in smuggling. Officials confirm that supply shortages and high margins have driven illicit trade, making temple gold even more vulnerable.
With the annual pilgrimage season approaching—expected to draw six million devotees—the scandal threatens to overshadow preparations and shake public trust in temple governance.
