The Kerala High Court has ordered a vigilance inquiry into the suspicious and unexplained loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols at the Sabarimala temple. The matter came to light during the re-plating of the gold-clad copper plates in 2019. A bench consisting of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K.V. Jayakumar highlighted that the plates, which originally weighed 42.8 kilograms when removed, were later presented with only 38.258 kilograms of material before the Chennai-based firm entrusted with the repair and gold-plating work. This revealed a shortage of about 4.54 kilograms of gold, a discrepancy the judges described as glaring, alarming, and in urgent need of a thorough investigation.
The court recalled that the Dwarapalaka idols were first installed in 1999 following official sanction and had been covered with a 40-year warranty. However, despite the guarantee, defects in the plating appeared in just six years, making repair and re-plating necessary much earlier than expected. The controversy gained momentum when it was revealed that the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) had removed the gold-plated copper plates covering the idols in 2019 for repair and re-gilding, but did so without the required prior approval or intimation to the Special Commissioner or even the Court.
Reports indicate that the plates were taken to a Chennai-based company named Smart Creations by devotee-sponsor Unnikrishnan Potti, more than a month after they were removed from the temple. At the time of removal, the weight of the plates stood at 42.8 kilograms. However, when the company finally received them, the weight had mysteriously fallen to 38.25 kilograms. After the completion of the re-plating work, the weight marginally increased to 38.65 kilograms, yet it still fell significantly short of the original. This raised serious doubts and deepened the suspicion surrounding the missing gold.
In response, the High Court directed the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of the TDB, who holds the rank of Superintendent of Police, to lead a comprehensive probe into the issue. The officer has been instructed to examine all relevant records, verify the chain of custody, and file a detailed report within three weeks. The court further ordered that all registers and records related to the matter be handed over to the vigilance officer without delay. Additionally, the TDB was explicitly directed to extend full cooperation to the inquiry, ensuring that no obstacle comes in the way of uncovering the truth behind this troubling shortage.
