Sabarimala gold theft row: TDB to approach Court for probe

Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president PS Prasanth on Saturday said that the Board, along with the Devaswom Minister, has decided to approach the Court for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged Sabarimala gold-plated pedestal theft. In an official statement, the board said it was for the court to decide the nature and scope of such an investigation. It emphasised that the gold-plated sheets were sent to Chennai for repairs strictly following prescribed protocols and that the total gold weight of the 14 sheets increased from 397 gm to 407 gm after the work was completed.
The board also noted that following the repair works of 2019, a 40-year warranty was assured for these sheets by Smart Creations and the sponsor. This warranty was the basis on which the TDB requested the sponsor in 2025 to carry out the repairs.Dismissing allegations of misappropriation of 4 kg of gold, the board said such unfounded claims were intended to tarnish its image and undermine the sanctity of the temple.
As part of the Gold Monetisation Scheme and under the directives of the High Court, the Travancore Devaswom Board had already transferred 467 kg of gold to the Reserve Bank after subjecting it to a state audit. The board had meticulously categorised all valuables under the supervision of the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner and submitted these records to the court.
The controversy surrounds the gold-plated Dwarapalaka idols and pedestals at the Lord Ayyappa temple. The Vigilance wing of the TDB is currently investigating the alleged theft of two coppergold-leaf-covered metal plaques donated to the Sabarimala temple in 2019. There are also allegations surrounding the more than 30 kg of gold donated to the temple by industrialist Vijay Mallya in 1998. The TDB Vigilance has reported that key records related to Mallya's donations had gone missing from the Sabarimala Executive Office.
 Kerala Assembly Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan on Saturday strongly condemned the alleged Sabarimala gold-plated idol theft and demanded action against those who are involved. The leader of the Opposition called it a "robbery of Swami Ayyappa's gold" and said that if action is not taken, they would start agitation. Satheesan held the former and current Devaswom Board Presidents, along with the former and present Devaswom Ministers, responsible for the controversy.