ED Conducts Raids at 21 Locations in Sabarimala Temple Gold Theft Case
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka see coordinated action to trace illicit wealth and seize digital and documentary evidence.
Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out simultaneous raids at 21 locations on Tuesday in connection with the alleged misuse and theft of gold and other assets linked to Sabarimala Temple. The operation aimed to trace the proceeds of crime and seize digital and documentary evidence from the sites.
The raids were conducted across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, focusing on the alleged illegal handling of gold and temple assets.
The probe originated from multiple FIRs filed with the Kerala Crime Branch, which alleged that certain officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board, private individuals, intermediaries, and jewelers were involved in the theft of gold and other financial irregularities. Following court approval on 9 January 2026, an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) was registered.
Preliminary investigations revealed that sacred artifacts coated with gold were deliberately recorded as “copper plates” in official records and stolen from the temple between 2019 and 2025. It is alleged that the gold was processed at private facilities in Chennai and Karnataka using chemical methods. The proceeds were then allegedly concealed and transferred to other bank accounts to avoid detection.
The ED’s operation aims to trace the illicit funds, identify beneficiaries, collect evidence, and seize digital and documentary proof, while also assessing the scale of money laundering involved.
The investigation has also indicated potential other financial irregularities at Sabarimala Temple, including the misappropriation of offerings and funds from religious ceremonies. All such activities are being probed under the PMLA framework.
