Former Temple Chief Held as Sabarimala Gold Theft Probe Intensifies
Key accused taken into custody for questioning in the temple gold loss case.
A Kerala court has remanded A Padmakumar, former CPI(M) MLA and ex-president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), to the custody of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for two days to assist in the probe into the missing gold from the sanctum sanctorum door frames of the Sabarimala temple. Padmakumar is the eighth accused in the second case concerning the disappearance of gold, allegedly from the gold-cladded door frames and the gold-plated copper sheets used in temple renovations. The SIT sought his custody to question inconsistencies found in records where Padmakumar referred to the gold-plated plates merely as copper plates.
The loss of gold from the Lord Ayyappa shrine has been under investigation since revelations surfaced of over 4.5 kilograms of gold missing during restoration work in 2019. Two FIRs were filed addressing separate allegations—the first related to irregularities with the gold-cladded panels of the Dwarapalaka guardian deity idols, and the second connected to the missing gold from the Sreekovil door frames. The SIT has arrested six individuals so far, including the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty, and is continuing its inquiries across multiple locations.
Statements have been recorded from temple priests, including tantris Kandararu Mohanaru and Kandararu Rajeevaru, who confirmed their limited knowledge but reiterated that all temple artifacts are under TDB custody. The investigation revealed suspicious handling of gold plating materials and attempts to disguise gold as copper sheets in official records. The probe also uncovered instances of gold being sold outside the temple premises after removal from sacred structures.
The case has stirred political tensions, highlighted by protests such as BJP activists briefly blocking Padmakumar's transportation for a medical examination outside the court. Despite this, the police quickly controlled the situation. The SIT continues to build its case, focusing on uncovering the full network behind the misappropriation and recovering missing assets, while the court monitors the investigation closely with strict confidentiality orders in place.
This high-profile case underscores serious concerns over temple administration and governance, sparking widespread public and political scrutiny in Kerala.
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