Fri Oct 03 08:05:19 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and rewritten version of the text as a news article:
**Summary:**
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) Vigilance wing is investigating the alleged misappropriation of gold-plated copper foils from the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. The Congress and BJP parties are expressing strong distrust in the TDB’s investigation, and are calling for a higher level probe, even a probe by the CBI. They allege the TDB violated temple manual by entrusting the gilded coverings to private brokers for refurbishment. The opposition parties also accuse the TDB of allowing private brokers to monetize the Ayyappa faith by offering special privileges at the temple. The scandal began after the TDB Vigilance recovered plaques from the residence of a former temple employee, Unnikrishnan Potti. Videos emerged of Potti consecrating gold coverings at the residence of actor Jayaram, who said he would cooperate with the investigation. Photographs of Potti socializing with influential figures, including politicians, have also surfaced, further fueling the controversy. The Congress and BJP allege the coverings returned to the temple after refurbishment were pure copper and not the original gold-plated alloy. The High Court noted a drastic reduction in weight of the coverings.
**News Article:**
**Sabarimala Temple Gold Scandal Widens: Political Storm Erupts Over Alleged Misappropriation**
**Thiruvananthapuram, October 3, 2025** – A major controversy is engulfing the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala, with allegations of misappropriation of valuable gold-plated copper foils sparking a political firestorm. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) Vigilance wing is currently investigating the matter, but opposition parties are demanding a more thorough and independent probe.
The alleged scandal involves the disappearance of gold-plated copper foils that covered intricate stone carvings at the temple. Both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have voiced strong skepticism about the TDB’s ability to conduct an impartial investigation.
“The situation demands a Kerala High Court-monitored probe by a higher agency with sweeping investigative powers,” stated K.C. Venugopal, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary.
Echoing that sentiment, BJP leader V. Muraleedharan challenged the Kerala government to hand over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Both parties claim to have “emerging evidence” suggesting the TDB improperly entrusted the gilded claddings to “private brokers” for refurbishment, violating temple protocol. They allege the High Court-appointed Special Commission for Sabarimala was kept in the dark about this arrangement, which allowed intermediaries to take the coverings to Chennai for repairs, creating opportunities for theft.
The opposition has further accused the TDB of allowing “private brokers” to exploit the Ayyappa faith by providing special privileges to wealthy and influential individuals during darshan and potentially enabling the removal of valuable temple artifacts for private use.
The controversy gained momentum last week when TDB Vigilance recovered several “stolen” plaques from the residence of Unnikrishnan Potti, a former temple employee. Further complicating the situation, videos have surfaced showing Potti consecrating gold coverings, supposedly destined for the Sabarimala temple, at the residence of actor Jayaram in Chennai back in 2019. Jayaram has stated that he will cooperate with the investigation.
Adding fuel to the fire, photographs and videos showing Potti socializing with prominent figures, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, and high-ranking police officials, have emerged, raising questions about potential influence and cover-ups.
Venugopal and Muraleedharan have also alleged that the coverings returned to the temple in 2019, supposedly after refurbishment in Chennai, were made of pure copper rather than the original gold-plated alloy donated to Sabarimala by Vijay Mallaya in 1999. They highlighted a significant reduction in the coverings’ weight, with estimates suggesting a loss of approximately 4 kg of gold. The High Court has also noted this discrepancy.
The escalating scandal is likely to dominate Kerala’s political landscape in the coming weeks, with the opposition parties vowing to keep the pressure on the government to ensure a transparent and thorough investigation.
First Piper 