ED Raids 20+ Locations in Multi-State Crackdown on Sabarimala Gold Theft
Enforcement Directorate targets Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu sites to trace money trail in decade-old temple gold siphoning case.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched sweeping raids across three states on Tuesday as part of its money laundering investigation into the high-profile Sabarimala temple gold theft case. Approximately 20 locations in Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are under search, focusing on alleged financial irregularities, proceeds of crime, and possible benami dealings linked to the missing gold from the famous hill shrine.
The controversy dates back to 2019 when gold-plated idols and temple components, weighing 42.8 kg, were sent to a private firm in Chennai for repairs and re-plating. Upon return, the weight had dropped to 38.2 kg, revealing a shortfall of about 4.5 kg of gold. Investigations traced irregularities as far back as 1998-99 during major gold-plating works at the temple. The Travancore Devaswom Board reportedly misrecorded gold plates as copper in official documents—a lapse later criticized by the court.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed on court directions, confirmed through photo comparisons that gold plating had been stripped from guardian deity idols, doors, steps, and ornate sections. While no direct theft from the main Lord Ayyappa idol was proven, significant quantities vanished from other structural elements. Evidence suggests gold was chemically extracted at the Chennai facility, re-applied in reduced amounts, and the surplus eventually reached a jeweller in Ballari, Karnataka.
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So far, 11 individuals have been arrested, including contractor Unnikrishnan Potti, the Ballari jeweller, the Chennai firm owner, three CPI(M) leaders (including ex-MLA A. Padmakumar), and the temple’s former chief priest. The ED’s current operation aims to follow the financial trail, identify laundering channels, and uncover any hidden assets or transactions tied to the allegedly pilfered gold.
The Sabarimala case has long stirred outrage among devotees and sparked debates over temple management and accountability. With the ED now intensifying its probe, further arrests and revelations are anticipated as authorities piece together the full extent of the alleged scam.
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