Wed Dec 24 11:33:37 UTC 2025: Summary:
A special investigation team (SIT) appointed by the Kerala High Court is making progress in its investigation into the misappropriation of gold-plated artefacts from the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in 2019. The investigation is focusing on former members of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) who were in charge when the crime occurred. Two former TDB members have sought protection from arrest. The SIT is collecting signatures and documents, examining the intention behind misrepresenting donated items, and seeking custody of individuals involved in the restoration and purchase of the gold. They are also investigating the possibility of collaborators within the TDB, compromised priestly hierarchy, events sponsored by businesspersons, and potential international links.
News Article:
Sabarimala Temple Gold Misappropriation: Investigation Nears Former Board Members
Thiruvananthapuram, December 24, 2025 – A special investigation team (SIT) appointed by the Kerala High Court is intensifying its probe into the 2019 misappropriation of gold-plated artefacts from the revered Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. The investigation is now focusing on former members of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) who were at the helm when the alleged crime took place.
Two former TDB members, K.P. Sankar Das and N. Vijaykumar, have already sought legal protection from arrest, signalling a potential escalation in the case. While the SIT has not yet named any 2019 TDB member as an accused, they are examining the board’s role in approving the handover of the temple’s gold-plated panels for “restoration” to prime suspect, Unnikrishnan Potti.
The SIT is meticulously collecting and analyzing signatures, scrutinizing documents for dissent notes, and investigating the intention behind the TDB’s alleged “suspicious misrepresentation” of donated gold items as pure copper. The investigation also extends to Pankaj Bhandari, owner of Smart Creations, who contracted to “restore” the gilded panels, and Govardhan, owner of Roddam Jewellers, accused of purchasing chemically separated gold. The SIT will seek police custody of both men.
Investigators are exploring the possibility of collaborators within the TDB, a compromised priestly hierarchy, events sponsored by businesspersons at the temple, and a potential connection to international stolen antiques dealers. The SIT has requested additional time to complete its investigation, citing the complexity and scope of the case.
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