The Thiruvananthapuram Cyber Police on 17 December 2025 registered a case against four individuals in connection with the creation and circulation of a parody song titled ‘Pottiye Kettiye’, which refers to the alleged gold theft at the Sabarimala temple.
Set to the tune of the popular Ayyappa devotional song ‘Swamiye Ayyappo’, the parody gained widespread attention during the recently concluded local body elections after being used by the Congress (UDF) party in its campaign against the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). The song’s circulation sparked controversy, with allegations that it distorted a sacred devotional composition and hurt religious sentiments.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the song was disseminated through online platforms, including YouTube, and was also circulated directly among members of the public and religious groups on or before 16 December 2025. The police stated that the act was carried out “with deliberate intent and prior knowledge” to insult religious sentiments, undermine faith, provoke religious emotions and incite disharmony.
The FIR named Kunjabdulla Chalappuram as the first accused, alleging that he created and released the parody beginning with the words ‘Pottiye Kettiye’ in a manner that insulted Ayyappa devotional songs and the sacred Sharana mantra. The police further stated that the content was intended to foster hatred among believers, disrupt communal harmony and disturb public peace.
The second accused, Danish Malappuram, rendered the song, while the third and fourth accused were responsible for filming and production. According to the police, all four jointly propagated the song through internet-based platforms.
Investigators said the track was produced by a Malappuram-based duo, Subair Pandalloor and Haneefa Mudikkode, as a promotional project for their studio. The lyrics were written by Kunjabdulla Chalappuram, also known as GP Chalappuram, and the song was sung by Danish Malappuram.
The complaint leading to the registration of the case was filed with State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar by Prasanth Kuzhikala, general secretary of the Thiruvabharanapatha Samrakshana Samithi. In his complaint, Kuzhikala alleged that the parody mutilated a sacred Ayyappa devotional composition and misused religious content for political purposes. He contended that linking Lord Ayyappa with an election campaign song amounted to an affront to faith and caused emotional distress to devotees.
The song gained wide circulation across Kerala and among Malayali communities abroad during the election campaign. United Democratic Front (UDF) Members of Parliament also used the song during a protest outside Parliament, demanding a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged Sabarimala gold smuggling case.
According to the FIR, the lyrics of the song refer to the alleged gold theft at Sabarimala, claiming that Unnikrishnan Potti, who is currently in judicial custody, was brought to the shrine to convert gold into copper, and that gold and money belonging to the deity were stolen by “comrades.”
Further investigation is underway.
Source: OnManorama
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