Kerala's revered Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple is engulfed in controversy following a 2019-2020 state audit exposing significant financial and procedural irregularities by the Guruvayur Devaswom Board. The findings, which echo the ongoing gold theft scandal at Sabarimala, reveal a pattern of mismanagement, including unverified temple assets, missing valuables, and unscientific budgeting practices, raising alarm among devotees and authorities.

The audit uncovered a lack of annual physical verifications of gold and silver, mandated by law, which have not been conducted for decades. A notable case involves a 2,000 kg copper vessel, valued at Rs 15 lakh and donated in 2002, absent from all records. Sacred offerings like Manjadi seeds and high-value saffron flowers were also unaccounted for, pointing to systemic flaws in record-keeping. Additionally, over 522 kg of ivory from elephant tusk trimmings in 2019-20 was not transferred to the Forest Department as required, fueling suspicions of misappropriation.

These revelations follow the Sabarimala gold theft case, where the Kerala High Court ordered a criminal probe into the disappearance of 4.5 kg of gold from temple idols and structures. The Special Investigation Team recently arrested Unnikrishnan Potty, a key figure accused of orchestrating the theft with Devaswom officials, intensifying scrutiny on temple administrations statewide.

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BJP Kerala President Rajeev Chandrasekhar has escalated the issue, urging Union Home Minister Amit Shah for a central agency investigation into Devaswom Board transactions over the past 30 years. He has also demanded a comprehensive audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General to ensure transparency and accountability, emphasizing the need to prosecute those responsible for temple mismanagement.

Devaswom officials countered that a detailed affidavit addressed the audit’s claims in a Kerala High Court case initiated over two years ago, which has seen no progress since. They clarified that ivory is promptly handed over to the Forest Department, explaining its absence from temple registries, and promised stricter verification protocols moving forward.

With the pilgrimage season nearing, these disclosures have sparked outrage among devotees, who fear the erosion of trust in Kerala's sacred institutions.

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