SIT Alleges Systematic Gold Theft From Sabarimala Temple, Names Senior Devaswom Officials and Jewellers

Sacred gold panels allegedly stripped during ‘repairs’, diverted through private workshops; court told custodial interrogation crucial

A state-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has alleged that gold embedded in sacred structures of the Sabarimala temple in central Kerala was systematically removed, diverted and converted through a coordinated operation involving senior temple officials, intermediaries and private jewellers.

In a detailed report submitted to a vigilance court while seeking police custody of key accused, the SIT said the alleged fraud dates back to 2019, when gold-plated copper components of the temple’s sanctum sanctorum were removed under the guise of repair and renovation.

How the Alleged Operation Worked

According to the SIT, several sacred ornamental elements—including panels depicting the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu (Dashavatara), zodiac symbols, the sanctum door lintel and the prabhamandalam (the arch behind the idol)—were deliberately misrepresented as ordinary copper sheets to obtain approval for their removal.

Investigators told the court that these components were transported to a private workshop in Chennai, where the gold layer was chemically stripped. The stripped structures were later re-plated with a fresh gold coating and returned to the temple, allegedly to conceal the loss of the original gold.

The SIT said this process resulted in an unlawful financial loss to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the statutory body that manages Sabarimala and other major temples in the region.

Breach of Trust Alleged

The SIT has invoked charges including criminal breach of trust, telling the court that the extracted gold was never reported to the devaswom authorities nor deposited in the temple treasury, as mandated by law and custom.

Instead, investigators allege, the gold was treated as private property and diverted through intermediaries and jewellers for personal gain.

Key Accused Named

The SIT has named several high-profile individuals in its report, including former Travancore Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar, devaswom commissioner N. Vasu, Sabarimala executive officer Sudheesh Kumar, administrative officer Murari Babu and other officials linked to the project.

Private-sector accused include Pankaj Bhandari, CEO of Chennai-based Smart Creations, and Roddam Pandu Rangaiah Naga Govardhan, a jeweller from Ballari. Prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti was also produced before the court.

Arrests and Court Proceedings

Investigators told the vigilance court that several accused have already been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. The SIT has argued that custodial interrogation is essential to trace the remaining diverted gold, follow the money trail and establish the full chain of responsibility within the alleged conspiracy.

The court is currently considering the SIT’s request for police custody of the accused.

Why the Case Matters

Sabarimala is one of India’s most prominent pilgrimage centres, attracting millions of devotees annually. Allegations of misappropriation involving sacred temple assets have triggered public concern and political debate in Kerala, with questions being raised about oversight, transparency and accountability in temple administration.

The SIT’s findings, if upheld in court, could have far-reaching implications for governance practices within devaswom boards and the handling of temple assets across the state.

The investigation is ongoing, and officials have said further arrests and recoveries are possible as the probe progresses.