‘Sabarimala gold stolen, sold for crores’, Kerala LoP Satheesan Accuses Govt and Devaswom Board

October 7, 2025

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Leader of Opposition (LoP) V.D. Satheesan on Tuesday alleged that the original gold-plated Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) plates of the famed Sabarimala temple were sold for crores of rupees with the knowledge and approval of both the Travancore Devaswom Board and the state government.

He said the Kerala High Court’s recent observations had validated the Opposition’s long-standing charge of a “grave act of theft and fraud” at the temple.

High Court Findings Back Opposition’s ClaimsKera

Speaking to reporters after the Legislative Assembly session was disrupted by Opposition protests, Satheesan said the court had confirmed that the incident was not a minor irregularity but a “serious fraud.”

According to him, the original gold plates were secretly removed and sold, while a copper mould was sent to Chennai as a replacement. On its return, the Board allegedly ignored the significant difference in weight, thereby covering up the theft.

Demand for Minister’s Resignation and Board’s Dismissal

Satheesan accused the Devaswom Board and government of deliberately shielding senior officials to avoid accountability. He pointed out that despite the controversy, the same craftsman, Unnikrishnan Potti, was reappointed in 2015 for further gold work at the temple.

The Opposition, he said, was demanding the resignation of Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan and the dismissal of the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Allegations of Misuse of Temple Gold

Citing an email exchange, Satheesan claimed that Potti had written to then Devaswom Board president N. Vasu seeking leftover temple gold for a wedding. He said such actions amounted to misuse of “Ayyappan’s gold” and accused Vasu, who has CPI(M) links, of feigning ignorance. He further demanded that the government clarify where the original gold idol and plates currently were.

Opposition Vows to Intensify Protests

The LoP also accused the ruling CPI(M) of hypocrisy, recalling how three present ministers had earlier insulted and resisted judicial interventions, but now claimed to respect the courts.

Satheesan declared that protests would continue “inside and outside the House” until responsibility was fixed. He asserted that the sanctity of Sabarimala had been compromised, devotees deceived, and public trust severely broken, demanding that those at the highest levels of power be held accountable.