DETAILED REPORT ON THE SABARIMALA GOLD THEFT
(As of 23 October 2025)
S. J. R. Kumar, National Chairman, Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam & General Convenor, Sabarimala Karma Samithi
- Overview
The Sabarimala gold-theft case represents one of the gravest breaches of temple trust in Kerala’s modern history. The Kerala High Court, through SSCR No. 23 of 2025, has confirmed prima-facie evidence of pilferage and misappropriation of sacred gold from the gold-cladded Dwarapalaka idols flanking the Sreekovil of the Sabarimala Temple.
Following alarming findings by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner, the Court invoked Article 226 of the Constitution, initiated suo motu proceedings, and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the theft, cover-up, and possible conspiracy among officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and private contractors.
- Chronology of Events
Date / Period | Key Developments |
1998–1999 | Original gold cladding of the Sreekovil roof, arches, Dwarapalakas, and related structures using ~30.29 kg of gold. |
19–20 Jul 2019 | Gold-cladded Dwarapalakas and Peedams entrusted to Mr Unnikrishnan Potty (private sponsor) for “repair” work. They were falsely recorded as copper plates and sent outside Kerala to Smart Creations, Chennai, contrary to the TDB Manual. |
11 Sep 2019 | Idols re-fixed without weighing or inventory; Devaswom officials silent despite clear irregularities. |
2019–2021 | Items returned; no registry entries or audits performed. Subsequent inspections hint at substitution of original gold. |
27 Sep – 06 Nov 2024 | Technical reports (ROC No. 11563/2024/M) record that the gold plating on Dwarapalakas had disappeared. Despite a 40-year warranty, officials again recommend re-plating through the same sponsor instead of a transparent tender. |
30 Jul – 08 Aug 2025 | Devaswom Commissioner first declares Smart Creations technically unfit, then reverses his decision within a week after instructions from TDB President. |
03 Sep 2025 | Board formally approves re-entrustment of Dwarapalakas and Peedams to Unnikrishnan Potty and Smart Creations. |
06 Oct 2025 | High Court constitutes SIT to investigate all aspects of the heist. |
10 Oct 2025 | SIT’s jurisdiction expanded to include side-frame pilferage and complicity of TDB officials; directed to seize all registers and documents. |
17 Oct 2025 | Dwarapalaka plates re-fixed under Court supervision; Justice K. T. Sankaran (Retd.) inspects inventory. |
21 Oct 2025 | Kerala High Court issues comprehensive order (SSCR No. 23/2025), confirming registration of two FIRs (Crime Nos. 3700 & 3701 of 2025) and directing seizure of TDB Minutes Book. |
22 Oct 2025 | SIT arrests Unnikrishnan Potty; multiple former TDB members and officials named accused. |
23 Oct 2025 | Investigation widened to examine culpability of the State Government, current TDB President P. S. Prasanth, and all officials involved from 2019 onwards. Court hearing fixed for 5 Nov 2025 (in camera). |
- Criminal Cases and Charges
Crime No. 3700 of 2025
Offences: IPC Sections 403 (Theft), 406 (Criminal Breach of Trust), 409 (Breach by Public Servant), 466 & 467 (Forgery), r/w 34.
Scope: Irregular entrustment and suspected substitution of gold cladding during 2019–2021.
Crime No. 3701 of 2025
Offences: Same sections as above.
Scope: Retention of 409 g of gold from side frames and attempted personal use by Mr Unnikrishnan Potty.
- Individuals and Entities Under Investigation
- Private Persons / Contractors
Name | Role | Status |
Unnikrishnan Potty | Sponsor of 2019 & 2025 works; prime accused. | Arrested 22 Oct 2025; in SIT custody. |
Smart Creations, Chennai | Workshop that handled plating work. | Co-accused (Addl. R8 in Court order). |
- Travancore Devaswom Board Office Bearers
Name | Position / Period | Status |
A. Padmakumar | TDB President (2019 Board) | Named accused in FIR for gold-loss at Sreekovil door-frame. |
K. P. Sankaran, K. P. Madhavan | TDB Members (2019 Board) | Included in same FIR as co-accused. |
P. S. Prasanth | TDB President (2025 present Board) | Under SIT scrutiny per HC direction extending investigation to current Board. |
C. P. Ramaswamy | Devaswom Commissioner | Issued conflicting technical orders; examined by SIT. |
S. Harikumar | Chief Vigilance & Security Officer (SP Rank) | Prepared initial vigilance report; now part of SIT team. |
Rajesh Nair | Executive Officer, Sabarimala | Responsible for missing registers; questioned. |
- Former and Current TDB Officials Named in FIRs
Murari Babu – Administrative Officer
- Jayasree – Secretary, TDB
- S. Baiju – Thiruvabharanam Commissioner
- G. Radhakrishnan – Thiruvabharanam Commissioner
- Sudheesh Kumar – Executive Officer
- S. Rajendra Prasad – Executive Officer
- Sunil Kumar – Assistant Engineer
- Sreekumar – Former Administrative Officer
- Rajendran Nair – Former Administrative Officer
All above are charged or under investigation for dereliction of duty, falsification of records, and possible complicity in misappropriation.
- Court Directions Bringing State Government & TDB Under Investigation
The Kerala High Court observed that “from the highest echelons downwards” the responsibility for the loss must be probed.
The Court formally impleaded the State of Kerala, represented by the Principal Secretary, Revenue (Devaswom) Department, as a respondent (Addl. R10), and the State Police Chief as Addl. R11.
The Bench ordered that the SIT shall investigate the collective responsibility of the TDB, including the current President P. S. Prasanth, the Devaswom Commissioner, and officers “in the highest hierarchy”.
The Court also directed the seizure of the TDB Minutes Book, requiring it to be sealed and kept under custody of the Registrar General, and ordered the registration of a suo motu writ petition to enable continuing judicial monitoring.
Hearing on 5 Nov 2025 will review SIT progress in camera.
- Nature of Loss and Evidence Collected
Item / Source | Finding |
Gold Used (1998–99) | ≈ 30.291 kg total. |
Measured Shortfall (2019–2021) | ≈ 4.5 kg missing between sent and returned items. |
Retained by Unnikrishnan Potty | 474.9 g from side frames (confirmed by email). |
Given to Smart Creations | 109.243 g acknowledged receipt. |
Registers Seized by SIT | Charge Mahazar Register (2017–2020); Devaswom Mahazar (2018–2019); EO files on gold cladding & maintenance. |
- Findings and Implications
Systemic Failure: The Court found deliberate mischaracterisation of gold idols as copper plates, suppression of records, and lack of verification — a collective failure of the Board.
Possible Conspiracy: Evidence indicates the 2025 re-entrustment to the same sponsor may have been a cover-up for the 2019 pilferage.
Loss of Public Trust: Faith of millions of devotees undermined; temple governance credibility severely damaged.
Judicial Oversight: High Court assumes direct control of investigation to restore confidence and ensure lawful process.
- Public Concerns and Demands
Reflecting the stand of the Sabarimala Karma Samithi and allied Hindu organisations:
CBI Investigation: Transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation to guarantee impartiality beyond State influence.
Audit and Accountability: Conduct a CAG/CBI-supervised audit of all gold and assets of temples under TDB jurisdiction; publish results to the public.
Reform of Devaswom Boards: Dissolve or restructure existing Boards; replace with Devotee-Representative Committees including retired judges, legal experts, eminent devotees and a Pandalam Palace representative for Sabarimala.
Immediate Interim Administration: Until reforms take effect, entrust temple management to a committee of devotees and retired officials of proven integrity.
Legislative Safeguard: Frame Central law to protect autonomy and sanctity of Hindu temples, ensuring equality with other faith institutions.
Transparency in Temple Management: Mandatory weighing, recording, and public inventory for all precious articles during repairs or ritual movements.
- Conclusion
The Sabarimala Gold Theft Case exposes deep-rooted lapses and collusion within temple administration. Judicial intervention has restored limited confidence, yet a national-level probe and structural reform are essential to protect faith, heritage, and transparency.
The Sabarimala Karma Samithi therefore reiterates:
Hand the investigation to the CBI;
Hold every official and Board member accountable; and
Replace politicised management with a devotee-centric system modeled on the Padmanabhaswamy Temple framework.
Only through complete transparency and reform can the faith of Lord Ayyappa’s devotees be truly restored.
S. J. R. Kumar
National Chairman – Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam
&
General Convenor – Sabarimala Karma Samithi
Kochi | 23 October 2025
Primary References: Kerala High Court Order SSCR No. 23 of 2025 (21 Oct 2025); Times of India, Mathrubhumi, The Print, New Indian Express, Live Law, Daily Pioneer reports (Oct 2025).
