SIT reveals accused planned further gold theft from Sabarimala temple

Investigation into Alleged Gold Misappropriation at Sabarimala Temple

The special investigation team (SIT) is looking into the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. In a report to the Kerala High Court on Monday, the SIT stated that key accused individuals conspired to steal more gold from the temple. This included gold from the gold-plated Dwarapalaka idols and the door frame of the sanctum sanctorum.

Secret Meeting of Accused

Three accused held a secret meeting in Bengaluru after the case was heard in the High Court in October 2025. The three are prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti, Bellari-based jeweller Govardhan, and Pankaj Bhandari, CEO of Chennai-based Smart Creations. They discussed possible actions in case they were implicated in the case, aiming to destroy evidence. The SIT confirmed this based on cellphone records.

Involvement of Travancore Devaswom Board Officials

The report also found that officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) were involved in the alleged misappropriation of gold. It stated that all criminal activities were part of a larger conspiracy and organized crime. The accused had a plan to dismantle other gold-clad items of the Sreekovil and misappropriate the gold.

Misconduct by TDB Officials

The SIT report indicated that TDB officials, knowing the temple’s door frames were gold-clad, referred to them as copper plates. This was seen as official misconduct, aiding Mr. Potti and others in misappropriating gold taken to Smart Creations.

Opposition to Bail Plea

The SIT opposed the bail plea of Mr. Govardhan. It stated that he was aware of the gold-plating works done on the sanctum sanctorum. The SIT emphasized the need to ascertain his role in the case, which required his custody.

Timeline of Alleged Misappropriation

The SIT claimed that the alleged misappropriation of gold at the temple occurred between 1998 and September 2025. Gold-cladding works were done by UB Group in 1998, and the Dwarapalakas were sent to Smart Creations for gold plating in September 2025. The SIT collected samples from the original plates at the Sannidhanam, and scientific tests are being conducted at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.