Kerala High Court directs SIT to probe 'larger conspiracy' behind Missing Gold in Sabarimala Temple

The Kerala High Court yesterday has directed the special investigation team (SIT) investigating the Sabarimala “missing gold” scandal to uncover the larger conspiracy behind the pilferage of the sacred values of Sabarimala temple. An interim report was submitted by the SIT before a bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar.

Court has ordered that the probe “shall extend to uncovering the larger conspiracy, identifying the officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (the state-run body that manages the temple) who may have colluded to conceal the misappropriation of gold from the gold-cladded plates, and determining whether the entrustment of the Dwarapalakas (gold-plated idols near the sanctum sanctorum) in the year 2025 formed part of a broader scheme to suppress the pilferage that occurred in 2019.”

On the obligations of the TDB to supervise and control its administrative officials and employees, the high court said, “The higher officials of the board cannot absolve themselves of responsibility or shift the blame onto subordinate officers, for each of them bore a collective duty to ensure that the sacred valuables of the deity were neither pilfered nor wasted.” The matter will now be heard on November 5.

On October 6, in a major development surrounding the missing gold controversy at the Sabarimala temple, the Kerala High Court today directed formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged discrepancies in the weight of gold-clad plates adorning the dwarapalaka (guardian) idols.

The bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and K.V. Jayakumar has directed that the SIT be led by Superintendent of Police S. Sasidharan, answerable to the court, and the inquiry should be conducted in confidentiality. The direction came after the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) Vigilance team submitted an interim report of its preliminary probe into the matter.

The high court had ordered a comprehensive inventory and appraisal of valuables at the Sabarimala Sreekovil after uncovering serious irregularities in the handling of gold-plated idols and Peedams.

The proceedings were triggered by revelations that the gold cladding of the Dwarapalaka idols and their Peedams had been removed without the knowledge of the Special Commissioner. Investigations showed that the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) had, in violation of its own procedures, handed over the gold coverings directly to a private individual, Mr. Unnikrishnan Potty (7th respondent), in 2019. According to the Sub-Group Manual, such repairs were to be carried out strictly within the Sannidhanam premises.

In 2019, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) authorised the removal of the gold-plated copper sheets and pedestals (peedams) from the Dwarapalaka idols at Sabarimala for refurbishment work entrusted to a Chennai-based firm, Smart Creations. According to the official mahazar prepared on July 19, 2019, the 12 copper plates together weighed 25.400 kg, while the pedestals were recorded at 17.400 kg, bringing the total weight to 42.800 kg. However, upon reaching Chennai on August 29, 2019, the same items were found to weigh only 38.258 kg and 100 mg, showing a shortfall of 4.541 kg compared to the initial measurement. Compounding the irregularities, officials failed to record the weight of the idols and Peedams during reinstallation in September 2019. Moreover, no registers were maintained to record the quantity of gold used, and no systematic account of cladding material existed.

Records established that the idols were first gold-plated in 1999 with the Board’s sanction. Photographic evidence from 2013 confirmed that the idols, Peedams, and staircases were fully gold-cladded. Yet, the High Court found glaring lapses in documentation.

The Vigilance Officer’s search operations on September 27, 2025, in a raid at the residence of Mini, sister of Mr. Potty, led to the recovery of gold-plated Peedams concealed in a sealed cover. Court noted that Mr. Potty had failed to disclose possession of these Peedams in his affidavit, describing the concealment as a sensational and shocking development.

The bench criticised Devaswom officials for entrusting priceless items to a private sponsor with “questionable antecedents". The High Court expressed dismay at the “casual and negligent” approach of the TDB in handling sacred temple wealth and pointed out systemic failures in maintaining records.

Case Title: Suo Motu vs State of Kerala and Ors

Order Date: October 21, 2025

Bench: Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K.V. Jayakumar