Key Highlights
- Massive gold theft exposed: Kerala Special Investigation Team arrests businessman Unnikrishnan Potti for allegedly stealing 2 kg of gold from sacred Sabarimala temple premises in elaborate conspiracy
- Nine officials implicated: Remand report reveals systemic corruption involving at least nine Travancore Devaswom Board officials who actively aided the theft operation
- High Court intervention: Kerala High Court orders comprehensive criminal investigation after vigilance report confirms substantial gold misappropriation from temple artifacts
The Sabarimala gold theft case has emerged as one of Kerala’s most shocking temple corruption scandals, with the Special Investigation Team’s recent arrest of prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti exposing a massive conspiracy that reaches deep into the Travancore Devaswom Board’s administrative structure. The case, involving the theft of nearly 2 kilograms of gold from sacred temple artifacts, has shattered devotees’ faith while raising serious questions about temple security protocols across India.
This meticulously planned Sabarimala gold theft case represents far more than individual criminal activity, as the nine-page remand report reveals systematic collusion between temple sponsors and high-ranking officials tasked with protecting sacred assets. The Kerala High Court‘s intervention and formation of a Special Investigation Team underscore the gravity of this breach of public trust, particularly given Sabarimala’s status as one of India’s most revered pilgrimage destinations. The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in unraveling what investigators describe as a “robbery with joint responsibility” that has fundamentally compromised the sanctity of temple wealth management.
Criminal Conspiracy Unveiled Through SIT Investigation
The Sabarimala gold theft case took a decisive turn when the Special Investigation Team arrested Unnikrishnan Potti following an intensive 18-hour interrogation session that began on October 16, 2025. Crime Branch SP Bijoy P led the questioning, with Kerala Police Academy Director S Sasidharan providing additional oversight under ADGP H Venkatesh’s supervision. Potti’s formal arrest was recorded after a comprehensive medical examination at Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital, followed by his production before the Ranni Magistrate Court where he was remanded to custody until October 30.
The breakthrough came when Potti confessed to police that the stolen gold was shared through collusion with Devaswom officials, confirming the criminal conspiracy’s systematic nature. According to his statement, the elaborate theft began when he arrived at Sabarimala in connection with a sponsorship program, with plans to smuggle gold from the sanctum sanctorum involving key Devaswom personnel. The confession revealed that after extracting gold from the plates, it was handed over to Kalpesh, a middleman who was actively involved in all planning stages related to the Sabarimala gold theft case.
Systematic Administrative Corruption and Official Complicity
The remand report in the Sabarimala gold theft case exposes the most damaging aspect of the conspiracy: the active participation of nine Travancore Devaswom Board officials who enabled Potti’s criminal activities in 2019. Administrative officer Murari Babu and executive officer Sudheesh Kumar allegedly recorded the stolen gold as copper in official registers, effectively masking the theft through fraudulent documentation. TDB secretary Jayashree stands accused of tampering with board minutes to facilitate Potti’s unregulated access to ornaments, while other officials conspired by forging signatures on the Mahasar (authoritative temple record).
The systematic nature of this corruption becomes evident through the deliberate failure to verify ornament weights before and after the electroplating process, violating both High Court orders and established temple protocols. The 2019 Travancore Devaswom Board, headed by A Padmakumar, now faces intense scrutiny as the vigilance report indicates it was “unlikely” that gold-clad plates could have been moved to Chennai without board members’ knowledge. The Sabarimala gold theft case demonstrates how multiple officials signed off on fraudulent records, altered critical entries, and deliberately ignored standard verification procedures to enable the systematic looting of temple assets.
Three-Stage Fraud Operation and Financial Impact
The Special Investigation Team has meticulously documented the three-stage fraud operation that defines the Sabarimala gold theft case, revealing the sophisticated methodology employed by the criminal conspiracy. In the first stage, Potti allegedly transported the door panels associated with Dwarapalaka idols to Smart Creations, a private facility in Chennai, where most of the gold was systematically extracted from the sacred artifacts. The second phase involved returning only 394 grams of superficially plated gold to the temple, creating the false impression that the ornaments had been properly refurbished according to the sponsorship agreement.
The final stage saw Potti pocketing the remaining gold for personal profit, diverting valuable temple assets worth significant sums while undermining centuries-old customs that govern sacred artifact handling. The Sabarimala gold theft case caused not only substantial financial losses but also desecrated the spiritual sanctity of one of India’s most important pilgrimage sites, according to SIT findings. Investigators discovered that approximately 474.9 grams of gold was directly handed over to Potti, with no records indicating this substantial quantity was properly entrusted to the Travancore Devaswom Board as required by established protocols.
Kerala High Court Intervention and Legal Framework
The Kerala High Court’s decisive intervention in the Sabarimala gold theft case came after receiving a vigilance report that confirmed substantial gold misappropriation from the temple’s sacred artifacts. Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and KV Jayakumar directed the state police chief to instruct the Special Investigation Team to register criminal cases concerning the missing gold from both Dwarapalaka idols and Sreekovil door frames. The court’s suo motu inclusion of the State Police Chief as an additional respondent demonstrates the judiciary’s recognition of the case’s serious implications for temple administration across Kerala.
Under strict confidentiality directives, the SIT has been tasked with conducting a thorough, impartial investigation while submitting status reports in sealed covers every two weeks. The court has specifically restricted the probe team from communicating with media until the investigation concludes, emphasizing the need for discretion in handling this sensitive Sabarimala gold theft case. The High Court’s order for the SIT to complete its investigation and submit a comprehensive report within six weeks reflects the urgency attached to resolving this breach of public trust that has shaken devotees’ confidence in temple security measures.
Closing Assessment
The Sabarimala gold theft case represents a watershed moment in Indian temple administration, exposing systematic vulnerabilities in sacred asset protection that extend far beyond individual criminal behavior. The arrest of Unnikrishnan Potti and the implication of nine Travancore Devaswom Board officials reveal how institutional corruption can compromise even the most revered religious institutions.
This case’s resolution will likely establish important precedents for temple wealth management across India, as the Kerala High Court’s intervention demonstrates the judiciary’s commitment to protecting religious assets from administrative malfeasance. The Sabarimala gold theft case serves as a stark reminder that robust oversight mechanisms and transparent governance structures are essential safeguards for maintaining public trust in religious institutions that serve millions of devotees annually.
The investigation’s expansion to multiple southern states suggests the conspiracy’s reach may extend beyond Kerala’s borders, potentially uncovering a broader network of temple asset misappropriation that could reshape how India’s religious institutions are monitored and protected. As the SIT continues its probe, the Sabarimala gold theft case will undoubtedly influence future policies governing temple wealth custody and the accountability measures required to preserve the sanctity of India’s most cherished spiritual heritage.
