The Sabarimala gold theft case has once again come into focus as the Enforcement Directorate stepped up its investigation with large-scale raids across South India. On Tuesday, officials carried out coordinated searches at around 20 locations spread across Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Sabarimala gold theft case under fresh scrutiny
The case relates to alleged irregularities during repair and re-gold plating works at the famous Sabarimala temple. Though the issue became public in 2019, investigators have traced the suspected wrongdoing back to the late 1990s, when major gold plating activities were carried out at the hill shrine.
What triggered the Sabarimala gold theft case investigation
According to probe details, gold-coated idols weighing about 42.8 kg were taken out of the temple in 2019 for repair work. When they were brought back, the weight had reportedly reduced to around 38.2 kg. This raised serious questions about nearly 4.5 kg of missing gold.
Instead of being repaired within the temple premises, some idols and structural parts were sent to a private firm in Chennai. Later, this decision was criticised by the court, as temple traditions usually require such sensitive work to be done on-site.
Key findings in the Sabarimala gold theft case
Investigators found that gold plates were allegedly recorded as copper plates in official records, which was termed a major lapse. A Special Investigation Team compared old and new photographs and concluded that gold plating had been removed from several areas, including doors, steps and carved sections.
While there is no direct proof of gold missing from the main idol of Lord Ayyappa, officials confirmed losses from other temple components. The probe also revealed that gold was chemically extracted at the Chennai firm, re-plated in smaller quantities, and later passed on to a jeweller based in Ballari, Karnataka.
Arrests linked to the Sabarimala gold theft case
So far, 11 people have been arrested in connection with the case. Those taken into custody include a contractor, a Ballari-based jeweller, the owner of the Chennai firm, and several political figures, along with temple officials. Earlier, even the chief priest of the temple was arrested as part of the investigation.
Why ED raids matter in the Sabarimala gold theft case
The latest raids are focused on tracing the money trail behind the missing gold. Investigators are looking into possible laundering of proceeds, benami transactions, and financial links spread across multiple states. Officials believe these searches could reveal how the extracted gold was converted into illegal gains.
As the financial probe moves forward, more developments are expected in the coming days. The case continues to draw strong attention in Kerala and across South India due to its religious, legal and political impact.
