Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched coordinated raids at 21 locations across Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, in connection with money laundering linked to the alleged theft of gold from the Sabarimala temple’s sacred artefacts. The operation targets premises of key accused, including prime suspect Unnikrishnan Potti in Bengaluru and former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A Padmakumar.
The alleged theft first came to light in 2019 when gold-plated idols and structural elements, weighing 42.8 kg, were sent from the Lord Ayyappa shrine for repairs to a private firm in Chennai. When the items were taken back to Lord Ayyappa shrine after repairs, the weight dropped to 38.2 kg, indicating a reduction of 4.5 kg of gold, with irregularities traced to 1998-99 gold-plating works donated by Vijay Mallya. TDB officials allegedly recorded gold plates as copper, violating protocols by outsourcing sacred repairs instead of getting the same done in the temple itself.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Kerala High Court, confirmed gold stripping from guardian deity idols (Dwarapalakas), door frames, flag post (Dwajam), and other components via photo comparisons and chemical analysis. Though tampering on the main idol was not found, there was enough evidence to suggest that extracted gold was re-plated thinly and diverted to a jeweller in Karnataka’s Ballari. Artefacts were reportedly stored at celebrities’ homes for private worship, breaching rituals.
The 11 persons arrested in this case so far include contractor Unnikrishnan Potti, Chennai firm owner, Ballari jeweller, three CPI(M) lm,.vxcz*eaders (including former MLA A Padmakumar), and the temple chief priest. The SIT also identified seven TDB officials in a criminal conspiracy spanning 2019-2025. Two FIRs were filed in this connection. More arrests are likely, according to sources.
The raids that have been conducted aim to trace financial trails, proceeds of crime, and benami deals from chemical gold extraction in Chennai and Karnataka. Assets may also be attached soon.
