Thu Oct 23 13:54:06 UTC 2025: ## Sabarimala Temple Gold Scam Rocks Kerala Government
Pathanamthitta, Kerala – October 23, 2025 – A major scandal involving missing gold and procedural irregularities at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple has erupted, threatening to engulf the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala. An investigation, triggered by a report from a High Court-appointed Special Commissioner, has revealed a network of officials, middlemen, and temple administrators allegedly involved in the looting of temple valuables.
The scandal centers on the removal of gold-inlaid copper plates from the Dwarapalaka idols in September. The plates were sent to a private firm in Chennai for re-plating without the High Court’s permission, a clear violation of protocol. Subsequent investigation revealed that the plates weighed four kilograms less upon return, raising serious concerns about theft and mismanagement.
The High Court has seized all related documents and is demanding answers regarding the loss of gold and the disregard for established procedures. Prime suspect Unnikrishnan Potti, who sponsored the gold-plating works, has been arrested and is currently being interrogated.
Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials Murari Babu, D. Sudheesh Kumar, and S. Jayashree are under scrutiny for improperly documenting the plates as “plain copper” in 2019, seemingly to conceal the gold content.
Adding to the controversy, the pedestals of the Dwarapalaka idols have allegedly gone missing for six years, with Potti claiming they were stolen. These developments surfaced shortly after the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, a government-backed conference aimed at improving temple development.
While TDB President P.S. Prasanth denies any wrongdoing and claims the agency acted under tight security, opposition parties are seizing the opportunity to attack the government. The Congress-led Opposition is demanding the resignation of the Devaswom Minister and the dismissal of the TDB, while the BJP has launched public protests in Pathanamthitta.
Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan alleges a political conspiracy to defame the government, pointing to the timing of the scandal’s eruption following the Ayyappa Sangamam. The Nair Service Society is taking a cautious approach, while the SNDP Yogam is calling for a CBI probe.
This scandal comes at a crucial time for the LDF government, potentially undermining its support base among key Hindu caste organizations. With local body elections on the horizon, the Sabarimala controversy promises to become a major political battleground.
This is not the first time Sabarimala has been in the news, as the Supreme Court order permitting women’s entry to the temple sparked widespread protests seven years ago. The temple and its management is again embroiled in a controversy with potentially far-reaching consequences for the political landscape of Kerala.
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