The Kerala High Court has observed that the modus operandi of the Sabarimala gold loot bears striking similarities to the international conspiracy of global gangs engaged in temple artefact theft. The operation appears akin to those engineered by the notorious murti smuggler Subhash Kapoor.
Temple artefacts command extremely high prices in the international market due to their antique value. This case evokes memories of the infamous operations led by Kapoor, who masterminded the looting of priceless murtis and temple treasures across India.
The Court stated that there is strong suspicion that the originals of the gold-plated temple items have been stolen and replaced with duplicates. The suspicion has now deepened further.
The gold-plated main door of the sanctum sanctorum had been handed over to one Unnikrishnan Potty for repairs, an aspect now under investigation. Official documents reveal that these suspicious and clandestine operations were carried out with the knowledge of the higher authorities of the Tiruvitamcoor Devaswom Board. Several correspondences substantiate this.
It has been noticed that nothing has been recorded in the seized Devaswom Board minutes after July 28, 2025. It is worth noting that the Dwarapalaka murtis were sent for repairs after this date, a serious impropriety. There appears to have been a deliberate attempt to mislead authorities by claiming that only copper layers were being dispatched.
The Devaswom Bench of the Kerala High Court, comprising Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K. V. Jayakumar, has directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine whether sections of anti-corruption laws, including the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Central Act), the Kerala Public Men (Prevention of Corruption) Act, 1983, and the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999, are applicable in this case.
Unnikrishnan Potty was assigned the repair work of the shrine door during 2018–2019. He, in turn, entrusted the job to a carpenter named Nandan from Thrissur.
Reportedly, a new wooden door was fabricated in Bengaluru, taken to Hyderabad, then covered with copper and gold-plated in Chennai.
The old door of the shrine, originally covered with 2,519.76 grams of 24-carat gold by Vijay Mallya’s UB Group in 1998–1999 — was replaced.
Records indicate that the new door made by Potty used only 324.40 grams of gold for coating, as per the Mahasar (official statement).
The new door was brought to Sannidhanam in March 2019, and a puja was performed at the Elampally Temple in Kottayam. A film actor and several Devaswom officials were present at the ritual.
Subhash Kapoor Connection
There is reason to recall Subhash Kapoor at this juncture. Kapoor, a US citizen of Bharatiya origin, was an internationally notorious smuggler of temple artefacts. He was arrested by US Customs in 2011, accused of selling a 14th-century Parvati murti, stolen from Tamil Nadu, along with several other artefacts. The stolen murti alone was valued at Rs 44 crore. Kapoor was later extradited to India and is currently lodged in Tiruchirappalli Central Prison.
Debate over the Finial and Iridium
A debate is now raging in Kerala regarding the fate of the finial removed from the top of the shrine for repairs. It is widely believed that the finial contained a significant quantity of iridium, a metal used in satellite communication equipment for protection against lightning strikes. The material is said to be worth several crores of rupees.
Chennai Connection and Lavish Stays
Intriguing reports have surfaced regarding the Chennai connection in the Sabarimala gold loot. Devaswom officials who transported the gold layers of the Dwarapalaka murtis stayed in luxury hotels during their trip. They resided at the ITC Grand Chola and Sabari Grand in T. Nagar, occupying suite rooms costing around Rs 20,000 per night.
The Court has ordered an inquiry into their accommodation details, including where they stayed, who sponsored them, and under whose instructions they travelled. It has been found that these officials reached Chennai last September with the gold layers, without the Court’s permission or instruction.
The group reportedly included Sabarimala Assistant Executive Officer Hemanth, Administrative Officer Sreenivasan, Thiruvabharanam Special Commissioner Rejilal, Devaswom Vigilance Sub-Inspector Rakesh, two policemen, Devaswom smith, two guards, and a representative of the sponsor who offered the gold layers.
The SIT has gathered evidence suggesting that certain Devaswom Board members were also present. The probe will also look into who funded the five-star accommodation. There are credible reports that senior officials, whose names have not yet been disclosed, may be involved. Their alleged links to the Sabarimala gold loot are now under close scrutiny.
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