Kerala High Court orders probe into alleged loss of gold from Sabarimala Dwarapalaka idols

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (Superintendent of Police) of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to conduct a detailed enquiry into the alleged loss of gold from the 'Dwarapalaka idols' (door guardian) at the Sabarimala temple [Suo Motu v State of Kerala & ors].A Division bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar issued the directions while considering a report of the Special Commissioner raising concerns over the removal of the gold-plated copper coverings of the 'Dwarapalaka Idols' for repair works without prior intimation..The controversy began when the TDB removed the gold plated copper plates covering the 'Dwarapalaka idols' without prior intimation or approval from the Special Commissioner or the Court for repair and electroplating.The plates were entrusted to 'Smart Creations', a Chennai based firm, for repair works under the sponsorship of a devotee named Unnikrishnan Potti.When the matter came before the Court, it noted that 'Dwarapalaka idols' were originally installed in 1999 based on an official sanction and subsequently, in 2019, a fresh gold plating process was carried out under the sponsorship of Potti, which came with a 40 year warranty.However, defects had developed in the plating within just six years, prompting repair works.During today's hearing, the Court went through the mahazhar reports dated 19th and 20th July, 2019 and found that items weighing 42.8 kg was handed over to Potti for delivering to Smart Creations.But another mahazhar dated August 29, 2025 recorded that only 38.25 kg was received by Smart Creations and after repair and re-plating the total weight of the items increased slightly to 38.65 kg.The Court noted that there was a significant difference of about 4.54 kgs in weight of the gold-plated coverings between the initial handover and after it was received by Smart Creations and observed that the explanations given by Smart Creations and Potti regarding the discrepancies were inadequate and unsatisfactory..The Court opined that there were glaring lapses in the handling of the gold-plated copper plates including procedural irregularities, discrepancies in the records and reduction in the weight of the items.Hence, it said that a comprehensive inquiry was necessary and directed the the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (Superintendent of Police) of TDB to examine all the aspects and file a report within 3 weeks.Additionally it ordered that all registers and records be returned to the vigilance authorities for proper examination.It also directed the TDB to fully cooperate with the officer to ensure that the investigation is conducted effectively."The registers which are placed before the Court by the Chief Security Officers shall be returned so that the proper investigation will be conducted and we direct the TDB to provide all sort of cooperation to the Chief Vigilance Officer to ensure that the directions issued by us are taken forward and the truth of the matter is brought to light," the Court said..Senior government pleader S Rajmohan appeared for the State.Standing counsel G Biju represented Travancore Devaswom Board.Advocate Sayujya Radhakrishnan appearing as amicus curiae for the Sabarimala Special Commissioner.Advocates R Sudhish and M Manju represented Unnikrishnan Potti..[Read Live Coverage]