Kerala’s opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) is pushing hard for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into claims of gold theft and irregularities at the famous Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple. On Friday in Thiruvananthapuram, UDF convener Adoor Prakash stressed that devotees of Lord Ayyappa deserve to know who’s behind these issues.
The spotlight falls on the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), whose vigilance team is digging into the alleged theft of two metal plaques coated in copper and gold leaf. Devotees donated these items to the Sabarimala temple back in 2019. There’s also fresh suspicion around more than 30 kilograms of gold gifted by businessman Vijay Mallya in 1998. TDB officials revealed that key records about this Mallya donation have vanished from the Sabarimala Executive Office, making it tough to track what happened to the gold.
“This isn’t just any issue—we need to uncover the real culprits,” Prakash told reporters. He urged handing the case over to the CBI, saying only they can get to the bottom of it and reveal the truth to the public.
The controversy kicked off when Unnikrishnan Potty went on live TV to claim the plaques he personally donated in 2019 had disappeared from the temple. That prompted the Kerala High Court to step in and order a TDB vigilance investigation. Just earlier this month, investigators found the missing plaques at the home of Potty’s sister in Thiruvananthapuram—a twist that has everyone talking.
Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan addressed the uproar on Thursday, assuring that a thorough probe is moving forward under the High Court’s watch. “We recovered the pedestal right from the complainant’s own residence, which points straight to the culprit,” Vasavan said. He promised more details would surface soon and noted that Potty’s connections are now under the microscope.
Facing accusations from the opposition about government and TDB negligence, Vasavan called it a distraction tactic. “When the stolen item turns up in the complainant’s house, the facts speak for themselves,” he added.
The investigation team cleared up one point: there’s no question about the Mallya gold donation itself. But they admitted crucial registers and documents that could confirm how much gold was used—or if any went missing—are nowhere to be found. Without them, experts can’t verify the plating process, fueling worries of possible record tampering at the Sabarimala temple. Devotees and officials alike are waiting to see what else comes to light in this ongoing Sabarimala gold controversy.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
