Sabarimala Theft: Its a well-organised crime

The Sabarimala gold theft case has taken a far more serious turn, with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) uncovering evidence of a well-organised, long-running operation involving the systematic removal of gold from multiple sacred structures at Sabarimala.

In a detailed report submitted to the Kerala High Court, the SIT revealed that the theft was not confined to a single location. Gold was allegedly stripped from seven layered structures linked to the sanctum, including gold plating on the Shiva idol and vyali (mythical creature) figures above the kattila layers — pointing to precision work requiring technical expertise.

Investigators said the stolen gold was secretly transported to Chennai, where it was processed at Smart Creations. The SIT told the court that the recovery made so far represents only a fraction of the total gold stolen, and further recoveries are expected as the probe deepens.

So far, 10 people have been arrested, including three CPI(M) leaders who previously held top positions in the Travancore Devasom Board. With custodial interrogations yielding fresh leads and more arrests likely, investigators say the case reflects a major institutional breach of trust, far more extensive than initially suspected.