Gold Missing, Faith Shaken: Why Accountability in the Sabarimala Case Stops Short

As lakhs of devotees arrive at Sabarimala for the Makaravilakku season and wait for the sighting of the Makarajyothi, the Lord Ayyappa temple stands at the centre of a controversy that has unsettled Kerala. The alleged misappropriation of gold from the temple has moved beyond a criminal investigation and turned into a wider debate on faith, institutional responsibility and political accountability.

The controversy stems from the restoration work carried out on gold plated copper structures of the temple, including the Dwarapalaka idols and portions of the Sreekovil. Former temple priest Unnikrishnan Potti, who was entrusted with repair and maintenance work, is accused of misappropriating gold during the process. Investigators allege that gold was removed under the cover of authorised restoration, deeply affecting the trust of devotees.

The materials involved in the case trace back to a major donation made in 1998 by industrialist Vijay Mallya. At the time, around 32 kilograms of gold and 1,900 kilograms of copper were donated for gold plating the Sreekovil roof, thazhikakudams and sacred steps. The project, valued at about Rs 18 crore, was executed under the supervision of the Travancore Devaswom Board.

In 2019, decorative panels and sacred coverings were removed from the temple for restoration. After the work was completed, the artefacts were returned and no concerns were raised then. The issue resurfaced only in October 2025 when a vigilance inspection was conducted by the Travancore Devaswom Board following directions from the Kerala High Court. The inspection reportedly found discrepancies in the weight of certain gold plated panels when compared with earlier records.

Meanwhile, laboratory tests indicated a reduction in gold content. Acting on these findings, the High Court ordered a detailed probe and constituted a Special Investigation Team. Once the SIT took over, the inquiry moved from internal review to criminal investigation.

Unnikrishnan Potti was identified as the prime accused. According to the SIT, gold plated panels were removed from the temple and sent to a metal processing unit near Chennai on the pretext of repairs. Investigators allege that gold was chemically separated from the alloy at the unit. The factory owner was arrested, followed by a jeweller from Ballari in Karnataka who allegedly purchased the extracted gold. The SIT is examining whether altered or replica panels were later returned to the temple.

As the investigation progressed, the focus shifted from individual actions to administrative oversight. Several senior officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board were arrested, including former administrative officer Murari Babu, former executive officer Sudheesh Kumar and former commissioner for sacred ornaments K S Baiju. Their arrests strengthened the view that the alleged theft could not have taken place without official lapses.

A major political development came on November 11 with the arrest of former Travancore Devaswom Board president N Vasu, a CPM leader. According to the SIT, Vasu issued permission for a gold plated sheet to be taken to Chennai for electroplating in 2019. Investigators allege that the sheet was recorded as copper in official documents and in the mahazar on his instructions. The SIT has also stated that he was aware that additional gold belonging to the temple remained with the accused after renovation work but did not ensure its recovery.

Two FIRs have been registered so far. One concerns the alleged theft of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols, while the second relates to irregularities in the gold plating of the temple door during the same period. Investigators have seized 576 grams of gold, including 400 grams recovered from a jeweller in Ballari and 176 grams seized from Potti's residence in Bengaluru. Officials believe this accounts for only a small part of the gold allegedly misappropriated.

The arrest of senior Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru added a sensitive dimension to the case. A member of the Thazhamon Madom family, which has led Sabarimala rituals for generations, Rajeevaru is the first serving Tantri to be arrested in connection with the case. In its remand report filed on January 9, 2026, the SIT accused him of criminal conspiracy and misuse of position, alleging that sacred coverings were dismantled without proper checks and that prescribed rituals were bypassed. The SIT has invoked provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, treating the Tantri as a public servant as he receives an honorarium from the Devaswom Board.

With arrests cutting across priests, officials and political figures, the issue quickly turned political. Opposition parties accused the LDF government of administrative failure and demanded accountability from Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan.

The BJP sharpened its attack, arguing that responsibility for safeguarding temple assets rests with the Travancore Devaswom Board and the government. State BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said accountability appeared to stop at priests and middle level officials while political responsibility remained unaddressed. He announced that the BJP would observe Sabarimala Samrakshana Deepam on Makaravilakku Day to highlight concerns related to temple administration and transparency.

Former BJP state president K Surendran also questioned what he described as selective action in the investigation. He pointed to the absence of arrests of former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran and senior official P S Prasanth despite statements allegedly made by the prime accused. Surendran argued that the Tantri's role was confined to ritual observances and that control over the devaswom bhandaram lay entirely with the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Surendran also claimed that the remand report focused mainly on alleged violations of customary practices and did not clearly establish any monetary gain by Rajeevaru. He described Kadakampally Surendran as the central figure in the alleged conspiracy and questioned why former Devaswom Board member K.P. Sankardas, who had signed official minutes, had not been proceeded against.

Taking the allegations further, Surendran said that Congress leaders had failed to offer a convincing explanation for the photograph showing prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti and Bellary-based jeweller Govardhan with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. He referred to claims linking members of Gandhi's family to firms dealing in antique idols in Italy, and said senior Congress leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, had not provided clear answers despite earlier remarks on the possible international dimensions of the case.

BJP leaders have maintained that the party is not defending any individual named in the case but is seeking a full and impartial investigation that fixes responsibility across political, administrative and institutional levels.

Scientific Evidence Brings New Clarity

The investigation has now entered a critical scientific phase. A chemical analysis conducted by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) revealed that the gold plating returned to the temple had been mixed with nickel and acrylic polymer, unlike the original plates. The Kerala High Court observed that these findings reinforced suspicions that the original gold-clad plates on the Dwarapalakas and door frames were replaced with tampered materials.

The court noted that the absence of mercury and the comparative thickness of the gold and nickel layers indicate a systematic process behind the alleged misappropriation. These reports provide a scientific basis to link past transactions (2019 restoration) with later activities, shedding light on the chain of decision-making within the temple administration.

The SIT has informed the court that statements from approximately 202 witnesses have been recorded, with key witnesses being examined under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Investigators have also frozen bank accounts of certain accused and traced landed assets to follow the flow of illicit proceeds.

Further scrutiny includes the dismantling of the kodimaram in 2017 and the erection of a new one, as well as examination of connected administrative files and documents. The 'vajivahanam', seized from Tantri Rajeevaru's residence, was found to be made of panchaloha with substantial gold on the outer surface, weighing approximately 10.68 kg.

The High Court has directed the SIT to record detailed statements of VSSC scientific experts and correlate analytical findings with physical and documentary evidence. Permission has also been granted to measure the surface area of the temple doors kept in the storeroom to calculate the precise quantum of gold plating on frames and prabhamandalam plates.

Arrests and Potential Accused

As of the latest SIT updates, 11 of 16 accused have been arrested in the case relating to the Dwarapalaka idols, while the roles of three additional suspects remain under scrutiny. In the case concerning the Sreekovil door frames, 11 of 13 accused have been arrested, with two more under investigation.

The new scientific findings, combined with arrests and documentary evidence, reinforce concerns about organised misappropriation and highlight the involvement of multiple actors across administrative, ritualistic, and political domains.

The Sabarimala gold theft case now represents more than a financial crime: it is a test of accountability in safeguarding sacred property and institutional trust. Scientific evidence, administrative scrutiny, and witness testimony collectively suggest systemic lapses and possible organised misappropriation.

For devotees, this intensifies questions about the protection of temple valuables. For the Kerala government, it challenges authorities to ensure that investigations cover all responsible parties, from priests to political figures. The case also sets a precedent for using scientific analysis to corroborate criminal investigations in faith-based institutions.

As the SIT continues its probe, the nation watches closely to see whether faith, governance, and transparency can coexist in one of India's most revered temples.