Kerala HC Orders Criminal Case Over Alleged Gold Theft at Sabarimala

Kerala High Court on Friday ordered the state police to register a criminal case over the alleged misappropriation of gold from the side frames or lintels of the revered Sabarimala shrine. Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar directed a thorough investigation into the scandal, which involves approximately 474.9 grams of gold. The court’s directive follows a vigilance report revealing that a substantial quantity of gold was handed over to Unnikrishnan Potty, the sponsor tasked with gold-plating the shrine’s side frames. However, records fail to confirm that this gold was ever entrusted to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), raising suspicions of misappropriation. The bench noted that investigations so far indicate clear evidence of gold theft from the shrine’s lintels.

The court has assigned the Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by ADGP (Crime Branch and Law and Order) H Venkatesh, to probe the gold misappropriation alongside other related issues. The SIT, constituted on October 9, was instructed to conduct a meticulous, impartial, and swift investigation to bring the culprits to justice. The vigilance report has been forwarded to the TDB, which must now pass it to the State Police Chief for further action.

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The court emphasized accountability, declaring that the SIT will report directly to it to ensure integrity and discretion. The team was ordered to submit a comprehensive report within six weeks, with status updates every two weeks. To prevent leaks, the SIT was strictly directed not to disclose probe details to the public or media until the investigation concludes.

This high-profile case has sent shockwaves through Kerala, with the court’s firm stance signaling a zero-tolerance approach to the alleged gold theft at one of India’s most sacred sites. The SIT’s findings are expected to uncover the full extent of the scandal and hold those responsible accountable.

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