The Kerala High Court has directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities involving gold-plated copper plates from the Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple, following a controversy over the unexplained reduction in weight of the sacred items.
Court documents and NDTV reports reveal that Unnikrishnan Potty, a sponsor who had funded the gold-plating of the temple’s idols and other valuables, had sought permission to use the excess gold for sponsoring a girl’s wedding. According to NDTV, Potty had written to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on 9 December 2019, stating that after completing the gold work on the main door of the sanctum sanctorum and the dwarapalakars, he had some gold balance and requested guidance on using it for a wedding in coordination with the TDB.
The TDB Secretary, on 17 December 2019, reportedly sought clarity on the permissible use of the leftover gold, following Potty’s request.
Potty, who had been at the center of the controversy, had previously secured the TDB’s approval to sponsor the gold-plating at his own expense. The TDB had handed over the gold-clad copper plates, weighing 42.8 kilograms, to Potty’s company, Smart Creations, based in Chennai, for plating work. When the plates were returned to the temple, their weight was reportedly reduced to 38.258 kilograms. Despite this discrepancy, the TDB entrusted Potty with another gold-plating project in 2025.
The controversy intensified after the Kerala High Court ordered the immediate return of the panels removed for repair and censured the TDB for violating the Devaswom manual. The court noted that the TDB had failed to inform the court-appointed Sabarimala Special Commissioner. According to the court, the incident highlighted the “alarming manner” in which the Devaswom officials allegedly acted jointly with Potty, breaching the sanctity of temple property and the trust of devotees.
Following the court’s orders, a High Court-monitored SIT has been constituted to investigate the alleged irregularities related to the reduced weight of the gold-plated copper plates. The SIT will be led by former Superintendent of Police S. Sasidharan and overseen by Crime Branch chief Additional Director General of Police H. Venkatesh. The team will include three inspectors, including cyber experts, and will also examine TDB records and the role of Potty.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has publicly demanded accountability from the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government over the alleged gold theft. He reportedly expressed suspicion over the incident, stating that allegations of gold being siphoned off raised serious concerns. Tharoor reportedly told the media that the High Court-monitored SIT investigation was a welcome step, but that the public would remain concerned given the “shocking details” and the possibility of a systematic problem occurring over several years. He emphasized that “accountability is a must” in the matter.
The Kerala High Court continues to monitor the situation closely, while the SIT begins its inquiry into the alleged gold theft at one of India’s most venerated temples.
(With inputs from NDTV)
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