In Thiruvananthapuram, the Kerala Police Crime Branch has initiated a formal investigation into the alleged misappropriation and potential replication of priceless artefacts from the revered Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. Authorities suspect these sacred items may have been sold to affluent collectors for private worship.
This probe was ordered by State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar, prompted by a petition from the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). Officials confirmed that the Crime Branch will soon hand over the case to a Special Investigation Team (SIT), established by the High Court and led by Additional Director General of Police, H. Venkatesh.
While the official First Information Report (FIR) has not yet been publicly released, sources close to the investigation indicate that at least 11 individuals are expected to be named as suspects. Among them is Unnikrishnan Potti, a well-known priest who previously served as a pooja assistant at the temple. The charges are anticipated to include serious offences such as conspiracy, cheating, confidence trickery, and the theft of sacred temple property.
The TDB’s controversial decision in 2019 to commission Mr. Potti for the restoration of the temple’s gold-plated copper coverings, which adorn ancient stone carvings and sculptures, is a central focus of the SIT investigation. This questionable contract has placed the priest squarely within the scope of the probe.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the vigilance wing of the Travancore Devaswom Board, acting on directions from the High Court, successfully recovered two gold-inlaid copper coverings from the Thiruvananthapuram residence of Mr. Potti’s sister in September. These coverings were originally donated to the temple.
A key aspect of the SIT’s inquiry will be to determine if “misleading attestations” by certain TDB officials—claiming the claddings given to Mr. Potti for repair were solely copper, with no gold content—constitute a conspiracy, abetment of theft, or a violation of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Notably, these specific coverings, donated by businessperson Vijay Mallya in 1999, are known to contain an estimated 38 kilograms of gold alongside copper.
The SIT is particularly concerned by the High Court’s query: whether the suspects intentionally replicated the temple’s valuable coverings, intending to sell the authentic originals to affluent individuals for private worship, thereby profiting from sacred artifacts.
Investigations by the TDB vigilance wing revealed that two individuals, allegedly assistants to Mr. Potti, initially took custody of the coverings from temple officials. Alarming, however, was a 48-day delay before these artefacts were finally deposited at a Chennai factory for repair. Furthermore, the vigilance unit noted alleged attempts by the suspects to exploit these “sacred objects” by exhibiting them for private worship in cities like Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad, suggesting a clear intent to monetize them.
The vigilance inquiry also indicated a potential breach of the Prevention of Corruption Act by certain TDB officials involved in this contentious transaction. The SIT will establish its operational base in the Pathanamthitta district. Meanwhile, both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have publicly expressed a lack of confidence in the ongoing SIT probe, advocating instead for a comprehensive investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).