The Enforcement Directorate (ED) ramped up its investigation into the Sabarimala temple gold theft case on Tuesday with raids in multiple states. The ED is searching 20 locations in Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu related to the case.
ED raids in Sabarimala gold theft case
The Sabarimala gold theft, which came to light in 2019, involves claims that gold plating removed from temple idols and structural pieces during repair and re-plating work. Investigators traced these alleged irregularities back to 1998-99, when extensive gold plating done at the shrine.
In 2019, gold-coated idols weighing 42.8 kg taken from the temple for repairs. When they returned, their weight dropped to 38.2 kg, showing that about 4.5 kg of gold was missing. The idols of guardian deities and other temple parts sent to a private firm in Chennai for repairs and re-plating. Later, court deemed improper since such work is usually done inside the temple.
Gold plates removed from idols
The Travancore Devaswom Board recorded gold plates as copper plates in official documents, which the court deemed a serious mistake. A SIT set up on court orders, compared old and new photos and found that gold plating removed from idols, doors, steps, and carved areas of Sabarimala temple.
The SIT noted that while there is no direct evidence of gold theft from the main idol of Lord Ayyappa, gold has gone missing from other parts of the temple. Investigators discovered that gold chemically extracted from plates at the Chennai firm, re-plated in smaller amounts, and then sent to a jeweller in Ballari, Karnataka.
The ED raids aim to uncover the money trail, identify laundering of proceeds, and investigate possible benami transactions linked to the missing gold. More action expected as the financial investigation advances.
Read also: Dhurandhar Hits ₹879.75 Crore Net as Border 2 Advance Bookings Surge