Thu Oct 02 14:38:20 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
A controversy has erupted surrounding the alleged theft and recovery of gold-coated copper plates from the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala, India. Unnikrishnan Potti, who initially claimed the plates were missing, is now under investigation after the plates were found at his sister’s home. The High Court has ordered a broader investigation into the repair and maintenance of the gold plating on the temple, citing a significant loss of gold since 1999. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is investigating the matter, including past gold plating projects. Allegations of corruption and misuse of funds by intermediaries involved in temple offerings have also surfaced. Opposition parties are demanding a CBI probe.
**News Article:**
**Sabarimala Temple Gold Theft Scandal Widens, CBI Probe Demanded**
**Thiruvananthapuram, India – October 2, 2025:** A major scandal is unfolding at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, one of India’s most revered pilgrimage sites, following the alleged theft and subsequent recovery of gold-coated copper plates used to adorn the temple.
Unnikrishnan Potti, initially a whistleblower who reported the disappearance of the gilded plates, has now become the focus of the investigation after the items were discovered at his sister’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the temple, is poised to question Potti. He maintains his innocence, claiming he is the victim of a media “witch-hunt.”
The controversy has prompted the High Court to order a wider investigation into the temple’s gold plating, citing a significant loss of approximately 4 kilograms of gold since 1999. The court is also scrutinizing the practice of removing gold-plated coverings for repairs without proper authorization.
TDB President P.S. Prasanth acknowledged that officials erred by using intermediaries for gold plate repairs outside the temple grounds. The TDB Vigilance wing’s probe will extend back to the 1999 gold-plating project funded by liquor baron Vijay Mallya.
Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan has alleged that “shady mediators” have been exploiting devotees, promising costly offerings and facilitated darshans in exchange for large sums of money.
The opposition is calling for a full-fledged investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). UDF convener Adoor Prakash demanded a CBI probe into the “temple theft,” and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan accused the current and previous state governments of enabling the pilferage of offerings from pilgrims.
The scandal has shaken the faith of devotees and raised serious questions about the management and security of the temple’s assets. The TDB probe and the High Court’s investigation are ongoing, and further developments are expected in the coming weeks.
First Piper 