The Mysterious Journey of Sabarimala's Gold Door: From Temple to Actor's Home and Back

The enigmatic tale begins with what appeared to be a standard restoration project in 2019.

Thiruvananthapuram:

An investigation by NDTV has traced an alarmingly irregular chain of custody regarding sacred gold-clad door panels from Kerala's Sabarimala temple. These panels, associated with the Dwarapalaka idols, were removed in July 2019, transported across southern India for over a month, and eventually returned with a significant reduction in precious metal content.

This revelation, assembled from court documents and company records, has prompted a High Court-mandated investigation.

The controversy originated with what seemed like routine restoration work in 2019. According to court documents obtained by NDTV, the gold cladding on the Dwarapalaka idols and door panels was removed and weighed on July 19, 2019, totaling 42.8 kilograms. The following day, the disassembled components left Sabarimala under sponsor Unnikrishnan Potti's supervision, destined for Smart Creations, a Chennai-based company contracted for electroplating services.

However, the shipment didn't reach Chennai until August 29—a 39-day delay. When Smart Creations documented the panels' arrival, their weight had decreased to approximately 38.25 kg, reflecting a loss of about 4.54 kg. These facts constitute the core of the current legal and political controversy.

The story of those 39 days reveals more than a simple transportation delay. Rather than being taken directly to the workshop, the sacred artifacts reportedly visited multiple locations: a private temple in Kottayam, temples in Andhra Pradesh, the Ayyappa shrine at Sriramapuram in Bengaluru, and perhaps most notably, the residence of Malayalam actor Jayaram for a private religious ceremony, before finally returning to Sabarimala on September 11, 2019.

Smart Creations acknowledged in a Facebook post: "The life-size idols of the Dwarapalakas are situated aside the inner sanctum doors. The Kavachams were consecrated at the Chennai Home of Padmashree Actor Shri Jayaram. They were then transported to Sabarimala and installed amidst Pujas and rituals with the divine songs of Ayyappa."

The central questions remain: Was the door that arrived at Smart Creations the same one that departed Sabarimala? If so, what happened to the gold, and why was copper present when it reached Chennai? Who was responsible for safeguarding the gold and the door? What is the current composition of the door—pure gold or gold-plated copper?

These inquiries, now being pursued by litigants and political opponents alike, largely remain unanswered. The mystery persists regarding whether the returned panels were the original artifacts and, if so, what explains the unexplained disappearance of nearly four-and-a-half kilograms of gold during their journey.

The Vijay Mallya Connection

According to public records and numerous reports, the first major gold donation to Sabarimala's sanctum occurred in 1998 from businessman Vijay Mallya. He contributed approximately 30 kg of gold to the sanctum sanctorum. The following year, an additional 800 grams were provided for the gold cladding of the doors.

Both the High Court and vigilance reports have repeatedly examined how much of the 1998 donation remains accounted for and whether proper records were maintained.

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and KV Jayakumar, has ordered an investigation, mandated the seizure of relevant files, and requested that the Travancore Devaswom Board's (TDB) vigilance officer submit a sealed report. The state government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by ADGP H Venkatesh. This team includes officers from district police stations and the cyber cell and has been instructed to comply with the High Court's directives.

The Political Flashpoint

Opposition parties and the BJP have highlighted these revelations as evidence of mismanagement and alleged theft. Hundreds of BJP supporters organized protest marches across Kerala; in Kozhikode, a demonstration led by former state BJP president K Surendran encountered barricades and water cannons as protesters attempted to approach the collector's office.

"They looted crores from the Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case and other airport-based gold smuggling cases. Now they are looting Devaswom treasures, like they recently did in Sabarimala. We are demanding a free and fair inquiry. The BJP demands that this case be handed over to the CBI," Surendran stated.

In the Kerala Assembly, the issue has repeatedly disrupted proceedings. Opposition Leader VD Satheesan informed colleagues that the Congress would continue protest actions until responsible ministers and officials were held accountable. Opposition members have called for the Devaswom minister's resignation and insisted on a central agency investigation; meanwhile, the ruling coalition has urged patience while the court-supervised inquiry proceeds, while defending previous procedural and institutional measures.

'Leftover Gold'

A 2019 email from sponsor Unnikrishnan Potti revealed his request for permission to "use" any surplus gold for personal purposes, including a wedding. The Kerala High Court described this revelation as "deeply disturbing" during open hearings. The TDB maintains it acted within regulations when entrusting the panels to the sponsor and that a preliminary vigilance assessment had been conducted.

What currently resides in the temple? The TDB has returned panels to Sabarimala following the Chennai work, but the High Court continues close supervision, has confiscated relevant registers, and left unresolved whether the currently installed panels are originals, replicas, or copper shells recoated with gold. Investigations and filings indicate inconsistencies in inventories, transport documentation, and custody lists—discrepancies the SIT is obligated to clarify.

The Kerala High Court recently directed state police to register a criminal case regarding the "misappropriation of gold" from the "side frame or lintels" of the shrine. The court has ordered the SIT to investigate and submit its findings within six weeks.