The investigation into the alleged theft and misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala Temple took a major turn on Friday after the special investigation team (SIT) arrested the temple’s chief priest (tantri), Kandararu Rajeevaru.
The SIT, which was formed last year under the directions of the Kerala High Court has already registered two cases in the matter and has so far arrested 10 people who are suspected to be involved in the theft.
Those arrested include senior officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board and leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which previously controlled the board managing the temple.
In a blow for the devotees of the temple, Rajeevaru is the first from the Tantri clan at the temple to be arrested in the case. The Tantri clan holds the chief authority on religious and ritualistic matters at the temple. His arrest comes at the peak of the ongoing annual festival at the Sabarimala temple.
Officers on Rajeevaru’s arrest
Police officers involved in the arrest recently told The Indian Express that Rajeevaru allegedly paved the way for the key accused in the case, Unnikrishnan Potty, to work as an assistant to the priests at the temple.
Potty, who allegedly took out gold-plated items from the temple in 2019 and 2025, had first stepped into the shrine in 2007-08 as an assistant under Rajeevaru’s guidance. Later, he hung around the temple, facilitating darshan for VIPs, businessmen and celebrities, before turning up as a self-styled sponsor for the gold covering of temple items.
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Rajeevaru will now be produced before the vigilance court in Kollam, where the case is being considered. According to a report published by PTI, Rajeevaru’s arrest was made based on statements given by prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty and former Travancore Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar.
As per the PTI report, the SIT found that Rajeevaru had close associations with Potty and had recommended the replating of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) plates and the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) doorframe plates at the temple.
Rajeevaru’s background and authority
Rajeevaru belongs to the Thazhamon family, whose members have traditionally been priests at Sabarimala. He is the most senior priest from the family and joined the temple in 1995, emerging as a key figure there over the years. In 2024, his son Kandararu Brahmadathan joined as a temple priest.
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Earlier this week, the High Court said the probe had been divided into four distinct phases. Each phase would deal with a different aspect of the case. All four phases have been posted below for the reader’s convenience. The SIT has in total made 11 arrests through their investigation into all 4 phases of the case.
Phase 1: Gold cladding of adornments and artefacts in and around the Sreekovil
Phase II: Replacement of the gold-clad Sreekovil door in 2019
Phase III: Removal of gold-clad Dwarapalaka idol plates, side plates and doorframe plates in 2019
Phase IV: Transactions linked to the gold plating of Dwarapalaka idol plates in 2025
The court observed that gold appeared to have been “surreptitiously removed, replaced or misappropriated” as part of a premeditated and coordinated effort by individuals entrusted with safeguarding the deity’s valuables. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 19. |
