Sabarimala Gold Theft Case: ED Raids Over 20 Locations In Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu

Amid an ongoing probe into the Sabarimala gold theft case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches at over 20 locations across three states on Tuesday morning.

According to the ED, searches were conducted at about 21 locations in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The federal probe agency recently registered a PMLA case after taking cognisance of an FIR filed by the Kerala police.

In Bengaluru, ED officials conducted raids at the Srirampura Ayyappa Temple and the residence of one of its trustees. Teams were seen inspecting premises and examining documents as part of efforts to trace the alleged diversion and misuse of temple gold. Searches were also carried out

at premises linked to Unnikrishnan Potti, the main accused in the case.

In Karnataka’s Ballari district, the ED raided Roddham Jewellery, located on Bengaluru Road, which investigators believe is linked to the alleged theft of gold ornaments from the revered shrine.

Earlier, the Kerala Special Investigation Team (SIT) had arrested Govardhan, the owner of the Ballari-based jewellery shop, in connection with the case. The ED also searched Govardhan’s residence in Ballari as well as premises linked to Smart Creations in Chennai.

Additional raids were conducted at the residence of Sabarimala temple’s chief priest (Tantri), Kandararu Rajeevaru, and former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President A Padmakumar. The ED also raided TDB headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. Officials said around 10 ED personnel were involved in some of the coordinated search operations.

The case, which has political sensitivities, is already being investigated by a Kerala government-appointed SIT under the supervision of the Kerala High Court. The probe relates to alleged irregularities, official misconduct, administrative lapses and a criminal conspiracy to misappropriate gold from various artefacts of the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala.

The SIT investigation focuses on the reported loss of gold from the gold-cladded copper plates of the ‘Dwarapalaka’ (guardian deity) idols and the door frames of the ‘Sreekovil’ (sanctum sanctorum).