A sacred door meant to guard the sanctum of Lord Ayyappa’s Sabarimala shrine has become the center of a major controversy. What began as a simple restoration project in 2019 has turned into a full-fledged investigation involving allegations of gold misappropriation, political blame games, and unanswered questions about temple treasures.
Court documents and company records reveal that the gold-clad door panels and Dwarapalaka idols underwent a 39-day journey across South India — during which over 4.5 kilograms of gold reportedly went missing. The Kerala High Court has now ordered a special investigation to uncover what really happened.
The 2019 Restoration and the 39-Day Journey
According to court filings accessed by NDTV, the gold cladding on the Dwarapalaka idols and door panels was removed and weighed on July 19, 2019, totaling 42.8 kilograms. The next day, the dismantled parts were handed to sponsor Unnikrishnan Potti, who was to deliver them to Smart Creations, a Chennai-based firm tasked with electroplating work.
Table of Contents
However, the panels did not reach Chennai until August 29, 2019 — 39 days later. When Smart Creations weighed them, the total had dropped to 38.25 kilograms, revealing a loss of 4.54 kilograms of gold. This unexplained difference lies at the heart of the current legal and political storm.
Unusual Stops Along the Route
The missing gold isn’t the only mystery. Instead of being directly transported to Chennai, the artefacts reportedly made several unofficial stops.
Records suggest that the sacred panels were taken to:
- A private temple in Kottayam,
- Temples in Andhra Pradesh,
- The Ayyappa shrine at Sriramapuram in Bengaluru,
- And even to the home of Malayalam actor Jayaram, where a private puja (ritual) was performed.
A Facebook post from Smart Creations confirmed that the consecration took place at Jayaram’s Chennai residence before the panels were reinstalled at Sabarimala. The post read:
the life size idols of the dwarapalakas were consecrated at the chennai home of padmashree actor shri jayaram and then transported to sabarimala amid rituals and divine songs.
This raised an important question: Was it the same door that left Sabarimala that came back — and what happened to the missing gold?
Unanswered Questions and Growing Suspicion
Several troubling questions remain unanswered:
- Who was responsible for safeguarding the gold during its journey?
- What caused the 39-day delay?
- Is the current door at Sabarimala made of solid gold or gold-plated copper?
The Kerala High Court is now demanding answers. Whether the panels that returned were the originals or replicas — and what explains the 4.5 kg loss of gold — remains under investigation.
The Vijay Mallya Connection: The Original Donation
The story of Sabarimala’s golden adornments goes back to 1998, when businessman Vijay Mallya donated 30 kilograms of gold to the temple’s sanctum. A year later, 800 grams were added for cladding the sanctum’s doors.
Over the years, the High Court and vigilance reports have repeatedly raised concerns about whether all the donated gold remains properly accounted for. The 2019 incident has reignited those doubts, with many questioning the integrity of temple record-keeping and the accountability of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).
Kerala High Court Orders a Special Investigation
A Division Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K.V. Jayakumar of the Kerala High Court has taken serious note of the revelations. The court ordered the seizure of all related files and instructed the TDB vigilance officer to submit a sealed report.
In response, the Kerala government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by ADGP H. Venkatesh. The SIT includes officers from the district police and the cyber cell, tasked with probing every aspect of the gold’s disappearance and verifying whether the panels currently installed at Sabarimala are genuine or replicas.
Political Fallout: Protests and Demands for CBI Inquiry
The controversy has quickly turned into a political flashpoint in Kerala. The BJP and Opposition parties have accused the ruling government of temple mismanagement and covering up theft.
In Kozhikode, a protest march led by former BJP state president K. Surendran was met with barricades and water cannons. Surendran claimed,
they looted crores from gold smuggling cases and are now looting temple treasures like sabarimala. we demand a CBI probe for a free and fair inquiry.
READ ALSO- Pradeep Ranganathan Vows to Never Miss a Rajinikanth Film’s FDFS ScreeningInside the Kerala Assembly, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan of the Congress vowed to continue protests until responsible ministers and officials were held accountable. Meanwhile, the ruling front has urged patience, stating that the investigation is being monitored by the High Court.
A Disturbing Revelation: “Leftover Gold” Email
Adding to the scandal, a 2019 email from Unnikrishnan Potti, the sponsor overseeing the restoration, surfaced — where he sought permission to use leftover gold for a personal event, including a wedding. The High Court called the revelation “deeply disturbing.”
The TDB claimed it followed due procedure and that a preliminary vigilance check had been conducted. However, investigators have found gaps in records, including missing transport documents, incomplete custody lists, and inconsistencies in inventory logs.
What Lies Behind the Golden Door Now?
As the High Court continues to supervise the probe, the mystery of Sabarimala’s gold door remains unsolved. The SIT must determine whether the current panels are the original gold ones or gold-plated copper replicas — and most importantly, what happened to the missing 4.5 kilograms of gold during its 39-day journey.
For now, the sacred door that guards one of India’s holiest shrines stands as a symbol — not only of devotion but also of the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and faith in justice.
By
