The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Thursday arrested former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A Padmakumar in connection with the ongoing Sabarimala gold theft investigation. Officials confirmed that the arrest followed several hours of questioning at the State Police Headquarters earlier in the day.

SIT intensifies probe with fresh arrests

Padmakumar, who served as TDB president in 2019 when the alleged gold theft occurred, is the latest senior official to be taken into custody. His arrest comes weeks after the SIT of the Kerala Crime Branch arrested former Thiruvabharanam Temple Commissioner KS Baiju on November 7.

The investigation has gathered pace after the Kerala High Court granted the SIT permission to conduct a detailed scientific examination as part of the probe. On November 17, officers began collecting samples from the Dwarapalaka sculpture inside the sanctum sanctorum and the gold-plated wooden door structure at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam.

Officials stated that these examinations are crucial for determining whether any irregularities occurred during the gold plating process.

Background of the Sabarimala gold controversy

The Sabarimala gold controversy dates back to 1998, when industrialist Vijay Mallya donated 30.3 kilograms of gold and 1,900 kilograms of copper to the temple. The precious metals were intended for cladding the sanctum sanctorum and adorning the wooden carvings of the revered Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.

Years later, discrepancies surfaced regarding the gold plating work, prompting widespread scrutiny. The Travancore Devaswom Board, responsible for overseeing the temple’s administrative and renovation activities, came under pressure to explain gaps in documentation related to the handling and use of the donated materials.

Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused, was taken into custody on October 17. His arrest marked a significant development as Potti was directly involved in the renovation and gold plating activities during the period under investigation.

Irregularities flagged in SIT report to High Court

In its second report to the Kerala High Court, the SIT highlighted serious lapses in the Travancore Devaswom Board’s records. The report revealed that:

  • The minutes book does not mention the transfer of the Dwarapalaka idol to Unnikrishnan Potti in 2019.
  • No official entries have been made after July 28, 2025.
  • Documents relating to the transfer of gold platings to Smart Creations, the firm entrusted with electroplating the copper coverings for the idols, are missing.

These findings have raised concerns about possible tampering of records or deliberate withholding of information. Investigators believe that identifying the exact movement of the gold and related materials could be key to unravelling the alleged theft.

SIT seeks scientific verification of gold weight

The SIT has now requested approval to conduct a detailed scientific investigation to determine the actual weight of the gold-plated idols before and after restoration. This analysis is expected to reveal whether any gold was siphoned off during the plating process.

Officials maintain that the scientific assessment will offer clarity on whether the donated gold was used in full or if discrepancies indicate misappropriation.

Conclusion

With Padmakumar’s arrest, the Sabarimala gold theft investigation has entered a more intensive phase. The SIT’s findings, coupled with gaps in official documentation, have strengthened suspicions of large-scale irregularities within temple administration records. Further arrests and disclosures are likely as the scientific examination progresses and investigators piece together evidence surrounding the decades-old donation and its subsequent handling.