Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 7, 2025 — In a startling development in the “missing gold” controversy at Sabarimala, the Kerala High Court has described as “deeply disturbing” an email from the sponsor of a gold-plating exercise, in which he proposed using leftover gold for a wedding. During its suo motu proceedings, the court expressed concern about the “distinct and grave possibility” that the original gold cladding on the Dwarapalaka idols may have been sold and the proceeds misappropriated.
The controversy began in 2019 when the Dwarapalaka (guardian) idols and related temple panels from the Sabarimala shrine were sent for fresh gold-plating under the sponsorship of businessman and devotee Unnikrishnan Potty. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) had handed over these items, weighing about 42.8 kg, to Potty, who in turn contracted the work to a firm in Chennai named Smart Creations.
However, when the idols and panels were returned after plating, their total weight was recorded as only 38.26 kg — indicating a shortfall of about 4.54 kg. This discrepancy immediately raised suspicions. Although the TDB vigilance wing began an inquiry, deeper irregularities soon emerged, suggesting possible mishandling or even theft of the temple’s gold.
The Kerala High Court, taking suo motu cognisance of the issue, ordered the seizure of all records related to the gold-cladding work. The court directed that all relevant documents, bills, and material descriptions be produced for scrutiny. It also instructed the TDB to halt any ongoing restoration or related activities at the shrine and to ensure the immediate return of all temple items used in the gold-plating work.
The most shocking revelation came when the court discovered an email written by Potty to the then president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, A. Padmakumar, in which Potty stated that he had a “balance of gold” left after completing the temple work. In the same message, he sought permission to use that leftover gold for a girl’s wedding.
The High Court observed that the email “unmistakably demonstrates the alarming manner in which certain Devaswom officials had acted in concert with Potty, betraying both the sanctity of temple property and the trust reposed in them by devotees.” The court made it clear that the responsibility extended beyond Potty and the Chennai-based company, holding that certain TDB officers were complicit in handing over temple property and later receiving it back with discrepancies.
To ensure a fair and transparent probe, the bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K. V. Jayakumar ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which will function under the direct supervision of the High Court. The SIT, headed by ADGP H. Venkatesh, with S. Sasidharan, IPS as officer-in-charge, has been tasked with investigating all aspects of the alleged misuse and loss of temple gold.
The court instructed the SIT to complete the investigation within a fixed time frame, emphasizing that no individual or institution, however influential, would be shielded from accountability. It also ordered that the Sabarimala temple’s strong room be opened under court supervision so that the current idols and panels could be examined and compared with earlier photographs and documentation from 2019 to confirm their authenticity.
Further, the High Court appointed retired judge K. T. Sankaran to prepare a detailed inventory of all valuable assets belonging to Sabarimala, ensuring that each item is photographed, weighed, and catalogued to prevent future irregularities.
In its order, the bench stated: “There appears to be a distinct and grave possibility that the original gold-cladded Dwarapalakas were disposed of to a willing purchaser for a substantial monetary consideration, and that the proceeds thereof were misappropriated.” The judges noted that the reduction in weight and the fact that the idols had previously been gold-clad in 1999—using donations from devotees—suggested a deliberate act rather than a clerical or technical error.
The court also pointed out that the matter may amount to serious criminal offences such as theft, criminal misappropriation, and criminal breach of trust. It stressed that temple gold and offerings are sacred property and must be handled with utmost care and transparency.
The High Court’s remarks have sparked political reactions across Kerala. Opposition parties have accused the ruling establishment and the TDB of shielding those responsible for the alleged misuse of temple assets. V. D. Satheesan, Leader of the Opposition, demanded a full judicial probe and claimed that this case exposed “the rot and complacency within temple administration”.
Meanwhile, the Travancore Devaswom Board announced that it would move the High Court seeking permission to take legal action against Potty in view of the emerging evidence. Investigators have reportedly traced some of the missing gold-clad panels to the residence of Potty’s sister, raising further questions about the handling of the temple items.
The court was sharply critical of the TDB’s poor record-keeping practices. It noted that the board’s registers lacked critical details such as the date of installation, exact weight, and description of each gold-clad item. Such negligence, the court said, had enabled unauthorized transfers and tampering. The bench urged the TDB to modernize its documentation system and maintain digital archives for all future temple works.
In response to the ongoing scrutiny, the TDB’s vigilance wing has started cooperating with the SIT. The team has already recovered some of the items believed to have gone missing and is cross-verifying them with official registers. Potty, on his part, has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that he used his own materials and only worked on copper plates for plating purposes. He dismissed allegations of theft or VIP funding, insisting that the accusations are politically motivated.
Despite Potty’s denial, the court made it clear that the contents of his email — asking to use temple gold for a private wedding — point to a disturbing moral lapse. The bench observed that the incident reflects a “complete disregard for the holiness of the temple and the faith of millions of devotees who contribute to it with devotion and humility.”
The court also warned that anyone found guilty, whether sponsor or official, would face serious criminal prosecution. It instructed the SIT to avoid sharing details of the probe with the media and to report progress directly to the bench in sealed cover.
Beyond the issue of missing gold, the Kerala High Court underscored a larger principle — that temples are not merely places of worship but institutions that hold immense cultural and spiritual value, funded by the collective faith of devotees. Misappropriation of temple wealth, the court said, is not just a financial offence but a betrayal of faith.
As the SIT begins its probe, the people of Kerala are watching closely. The court’s intervention has renewed public debate on the management of temple resources and the transparency of Devaswom Boards. For now, the “missing gold” at Sabarimala has become more than a case of administrative lapses — it has turned into a test of accountability, faith, and governance in one of India’s most revered temples.
