A famed Hindu temple in southern India is embroiled in a scandal after the Kerala high court said there was evidence that some of the idols have been stripped of their gold covering.
Gold and silver plating of idols and temple figurines, mostly paid for by devotees, is common across temples in India. So, the theft at Sabarimala shrine, visited by millions of pilgrims every year, has stunned the devout and made headlines.
The Kerala High Court has set up a special investigation team (SIT), police have begun an inquiry into the disappearance of gold, and three people, including a former assistant temple priest, have been arrested.
A two-judge bench that is monitoring the investigation has been holding regular hearings in the case since September, with the next sitting scheduled for Wednesday.
The hill shrine, dedicated to Hindu deity Lord Ayyappa, has previously made headlines for its controversial practices, including a ban on women of menstruating age; this was challenged at the Supreme Court.
What has been stolen?
The controversy centers around two idols of Dwarapalakas - or door guards - placed just outside the sanctum sanctorum where the main deity resides. A report from the court-appointed Sabarimala Special Commissioner suggested that the idols were stripped of their gold-cladding in numerous areas.
In various court orders, Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and KV Jayakumar mentioned that they reviewed records submitted by temple officials and other documents collected by the SIT pointing towards a serious heist at the temple.
Gold worth over 30 kg, donated by now-disgraced businessman Vijay Mallya in 1998-99, was used for gold-cladding the idols and temple structures. The court has now revealed that around 4.54 kg of gold has gone missing since 2019 when one of the priests was permitted to take the idols out for repair.
The court expressed its ire towards the temple board officials for permitting unmonitored removal of the idols, recording them as mere “copper plates” in their logs.
The suspects and their denials
Unnikrishnan Potty, the former assistant priest linked to this scandal, has been arrested but has proclaimed his innocence, suggesting that he is being framed.
Two other officials from the temple board have also faced arrest. The temple board president, who is under scrutiny, has stated that they had no involvement in this incident but will cooperate fully with investigations.
Political row and protests
The scandal has escalated into a political issue, with opposition parties organizing protests against the ruling Communist government in Kerala. Calls for the resignation of the Minister for Temple Affairs have also emerged, while he maintains the integrity of their operations and supports the ongoing investigation.
