Kerala’s opposition leader has blasted the Sabarimala temple for a suspected gold‑plated idol theft, saying officials must face legal action.
V. D. Satheesan of the Kerala Assembly, who heads the state’s main opposition party, called the missing gold‑plated “Dwarapalaka” idols a robbery of Swami Ayyappa’s own silver. He pointed fingers at both past and present leaders of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the Devaswom Ministers, demanding their resignations and a full investigation into the matter.
“People have come forward with concrete evidence that the gold was stolen,” Satheesan told . “If we do not see swift answers, we will stage protests.” He added that the theft would hurt the faith of devotees who trust the temple’s safekeeping.
The TDB, which runs the world‑famous Sabarimala pilgrimage, said it is working to clear the controversy. President P.S. Prasanth said the board and the Devaswom Minister will ask the court to conduct a comprehensive probe covering everything from the 1998 gold plating by industrialist Vijay Mallya to the current disputes.
“I met with the minister yesterday, and we decided to request a thorough court investigation,” Prasanth told . “We will look into the gold shortfall, the copper‑gold‑leaf plaques, and any other doubts. Nobody can hide the truth from the world.”
The board’s vigilance wing is already examining two copper‑gold‑leaf plaques donated in 2019. These were reportedly taken to Chennai in 2025 following strict procedures. Meanwhile, evidence linked to Vijay Mallya’s 1998 donation of over 30 kg of gold has vanished from the Sabarimala executive office.
Some locals say the temple has always been under scrutiny, especially after a 1998 incident where gold was supposedly plated with the help of a company from Chennai. Others argue that the temple’s leadership is simply responding to public pressure and that the investigation “will prove the board’s transparency.”
The story highlights Kerala’s religious politics. Sabarimala attracts millions of pilgrims every year, so any claim of theft threatens the state’s tourism and religious harmony. The result may well hinge on how quickly the TDB and the state government clarify the allegations.
The investigation’s outcome will tell whether Sabarimala’s revered idols remain safe or if a scandal will eclipse the pilgrimage’s legacy. The temple’s leaders re‑affirm their commitment to full transparency, while the opposition voices growing impatience. The tension between faith and governance sets the stage for a high‑stakes investigation that could decide the fate of Kerala’s most‑visited shrine.
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