Kerala High Court Orders SIT Probe into Suspected Gold Theft at Sabarimala Shrine
Division Bench flags major irregularities in temple artifacts, directs swift inquiry amid devotee outrage
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Oct 7: In a decisive move to address mounting concerns over temple treasures, the Kerala High Court on Monday established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to delve into claims of missing gold from the iconic Dwarapalaka idols at the famed Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple.
The probe stems from a self-initiated case by the court, triggered by findings from a Special Commissioner that highlighted unauthorized handling of sacred items. Reports indicate the gold overlay on the copper-based guardian statues—along with their pedestal—was stripped off and dispatched to a private firm for re-gilding, without notifying oversight authorities. This process, funded by a prominent devotee, has now come under intense scrutiny after recent audits revealed a stark shortfall of approximately four kilograms in the precious metal’s weight compared to records from 2019.
During a recent hearing, a Division Bench led by Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar reviewed evidence submitted by the Travancore Devaswom Board’s Chief Vigilance and Security Officer, a senior police official. The submission included side-by-side image analysis: snapshots of the gold-layered plates from July 2019 contrasted sharply with fresh visuals from early September this year, exposing clear alterations. Historical documents further confirmed that the idols received 1.564 kilograms of gold during a major refurbishment in 1998-99, backed by a corporate sponsor from the liquor industry.
The bench expressed grave alarm, terming the discrepancies as potential indicators of outright pilferage, betrayal of fiduciary duties, and wrongful diversion of assets. Adding fuel to the fire, the court highlighted a 2019 correspondence where the sponsoring devotee requested board approval to repurpose “leftover” gold for a personal family event—a wedding—pointing to possible collusion between temple administrators and external parties.
“The truth demands a thorough, expert-led probe to expose every layer of this scandal,” the judges emphasized, underscoring the need for transparency in managing one of India’s most revered pilgrimage sites, which draws millions annually.
To spearhead the effort, the court named ADGP H. Venkitesh, head of Law and Order, as SIT coordinator, with IPS officer S. Sasidharan from the Kerala Police Academy assigned as lead investigator. The team must file a formal criminal complaint based on the vigilance report and wrap up its findings within six weeks, starting October 10.
This isn’t the court’s first intervention in Sabarimala affairs. Earlier, it enlisted retired Justice K.T. Sankaran to oversee a full inventory of the temple’s valuables, including those in the secure vaults and the ceremonial jewel registry. A certified gem evaluator has also been greenlit to inspect every gold-adorned relic.
The case, titled *Suo Motu vs. State of Kerala* (SSCR 23/2025), returns to court on October 10 for updates from the vigilance wing. Devotee groups have welcomed the swift action, calling it a vital step toward restoring faith in the shrine’s custodians, while temple board officials have yet to issue a detailed public response. As the pilgrimage season looms, the revelations risk casting a shadow over the site’s spiritual legacy.
