Kerala High Court Constitutes SIT To Probe Alleged Gold Loss From Sabarimala Dwarapalaka Idols

The Kerala High Court has constituted a Special Investigation Team to investigate the alleged discrepancies in the weight of gold in the Dwarapalaka idols of Sabarimala temple.

The alleged loss of weight of gold came to light during the Court's intervention while considering a suo motu petition initiated on the basis of a report of the Special Commissioner stating that the Gold-cladded copper covering of the Dwarapalaka idols and the Peedam on which the idols were fixed, were removed without prior intimation to it.

The Travancore Core Devaswom Board (TDB), with sponsorship from devotee Unnikrishnan Potty (7th respondent), had sent the items to Smart Creations (8th respondent) for electroplating.

The Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar had noted during the hearing that the weight of the gold had reduced by around 4kg after the idols were handed over to the 7th respondent on an earlier occasion, in 2019.

The matter was taken up today the Chief Vigilance & Security officer (Superintendent of Police), Travancore Devaswom submitted a report which stated that photographs of gold-cladded copper plates taken on 19.07.2019 and 20.07.2019 were seized during the ongoing investigation. On comparison of the photographs with the photograph of Dwarapalakas taken on 07.09.2025, marked differences were found. 

Further examination revealed that the idols, described in official records as “copper plates,” had originally been gold-cladded using 1.564 kilograms of gold during the 1998–99 renovation sponsored by the United Breweries Group (McDowell & Co. Ltd.). The Court observed that the misdescription of these items and the weight loss strongly suggested theft, criminal breach of trust, and misappropriation.

The Court further noted an email dated December 9, 2019, in which the 7th respondent sought permission  of TDB President, to use the surplus gold left from the refixation of gold-plated Dwarapalakas for solemnisation of marriage of a girl. This, the court observed demonstrated the manner in which certain Devaswom officials acted in concert with the 7th respondent. 

"Only a detailed, meticulous, and professionally conducted investigation can unravel the full extent of the wrongdoing and bring to light all facets of this matter." the Court noted. 

It thus constituted a Special Investigation Team with H Venkitesh, ADGP (Law and Order) as the head of the SIT, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter. The Court court has appointed S Sasidharan (IPS), Assistant Director, Kerala Police Academy as the investigation officer. 

The SIT has been directed to register a crime based on the report filed by the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer(Superintendent of Police) and complete the full investigation within six weeks after it commences on October, 10 2025. 

The Court had earlier appointed Justice K T Sankaran, former Judge of the Kerala High Court, for appraisal of all valuables of the Sabarimala Temple.

It had permitted engagement of a jewel appraiser of proven expertise to conduct a thorough appraisal of all items in the strong room as well as those recorded in the Thiruvabharanam Register and the items which have been gold cladded.

The matter is next listed on Friday (October 10), for further proceedings and final report of Vigilance and Security Officer. 

Case Title: Suo Motu v State of Kerala

Case No: SSCR 23/ 2025

Counsel for Respondents: S Rajmohan (Sr. GP), G Biju, R Sudhish, M Manju, K B Pradeep, Kshema Elizabeth Samuel, Aneeta Nirmal Mamen

Amicus Curiae: Sayujya Radhkrishnan 

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