The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has levelled serious allegations against Kerala Devaswom Minister V. N. Vasavan, claiming that he has close links with individuals accused in the Sabarimala temple gold theft case. The controversy, which has shocked both political and religious circles in the state, revolves around the alleged misappropriation of gold meant for plating the sanctum doors and ornaments of the revered Sabarimala shrine.
According to investigators, the main accused, contractor Unnikrishnan Potty, was assigned the responsibility of gold-plating the temple doors. However, he is suspected of diverting a portion of the gold intended for the project. The case has since expanded to include several officials and contractors believed to be part of a larger network involved in the misappropriation.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, speaking to India Today, said that credible information from government sources indicated “clear connections between Minister Vasavan and the ecosystem responsible for looting nearly 4.5 kilograms of gold from Sabarimala.” While clarifying that the party was not making any final judgment on the minister’s guilt, Chandrasekhar insisted that Vasavan should resign immediately to ensure transparency in the ongoing probe.
The BJP has also called for the dissolution of the Devaswom Board, arguing that the temple’s administrative structure has been compromised. In addition, the party demanded that the investigation be handed over to a central agency, citing a potential conflict of interest if the probe remains under the state government’s control.
Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case has made significant progress. Approximately 400 grams of the stolen gold have been recovered from a jeweller based in Ballari, Karnataka. Investigators have arrested both B. Murari Babu, a former officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board, and Unnikrishnan Potty, the main accused, for allegedly submitting forged proposals that falsely described gold plates as copper.
In its preliminary findings, the SIT report noted that several temple officials themselves were complicit in the theft and had actively facilitated the manipulation of records and materials used in the gold-plating work. The revelations have sparked widespread outrage, with demands growing for a thorough and independent investigation to uncover the full extent of the corruption surrounding the Sabarimala project.
