The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted search operations today at 21 locations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. This action taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002. The searches linked to the misappropriation of gold and other assets belonging to the Sabarimala Temple.
ED conducts multiple raids, as per Kerala Crime Branch instructions
The investigation stems from multiple FIRs filed by the Kerala Crime Branch. These reports uncover a criminal conspiracy that involves officials from the Travancore Devaswom Board, private individuals, middlemen, and jewellers.
The preliminary investigation shows that gold-clad sacred artefacts falsely identified as copper plates in official records. These items illegally taken from the temple between 2019 and 2025. Allegedly, the gold extracted using chemical methods at private facilities in Chennai and Karnataka, leading to funds gained through crime that were hidden, moved, and kept.
Investigation going on to found stolen funds
The searches aimed to trace the stolen funds, identify those benefiting, seize incriminating documents and digital evidence, and determine the full scope of the money laundering. The investigation also uncovered signs of other financial issues and scams at Sabarimala, such as misappropriation of temple offerings and rituals, which are under review within the PMLA framework.
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