ED Conducts Widespread Raids in Sabarimala Gold Misappropriation Probe
The Enforcement Directorate launched extensive search operations on Tuesday. Officials targeted twenty-one locations across three southern states. The action covers Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
This major operation connects directly to a serious investigation. Authorities are probing the alleged misappropriation of gold and other valuable assets from the famous Sabarimala Temple. The estimated value of the missing items runs into multiple crores.
Search Targets Include Temple Officials and Private Entities
ED officials from the Kochi Zonal Office executed the coordinated raids. Their search list included several key figures and organizations.
- Officials from the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the temple
- Private individuals suspected of involvement
- Intermediaries who may have facilitated the transactions
- Jewellers potentially connected to the processing of stolen gold
Investigators are operating under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. They have declined to reveal specific names of those searched. Officials also withheld the exact quantity of gold involved, citing the sensitive nature of the ongoing probe.
Probe Originates from Multiple Police FIRs
The current ED investigation stems from several First Information Reports. The Crime Branch of the Kerala Police originally filed these complaints. These documents triggered the broader money laundering inquiry.
An Enforcement Case Information Report officially registered the case on January 9, 2026. This registration followed a favorable court order that authorized the probe.
Uncovering a Deep-Rooted Criminal Conspiracy
Preliminary investigations have revealed disturbing details. Sources describe a well-organized criminal operation.
Sacred artefacts originally covered in gold were deliberately misrecorded in official temple documents. These valuable items appeared as simple copper plates in the records. This systematic misrepresentation occurred between 2019 and 2025.
The stolen gold then underwent processing at private facilities. Locations in Chennai and Karnataka hosted these operations. Chemical processes melted down the sacred gold to remove identifiable markings.
"The gold was then allegedly melted using chemical processes at private facilities in Chennai and Karnataka, generating proceeds of crime that were layered, transferred, and concealed," a source familiar with the investigation explained.
Objectives of the Raids and Broader Financial Irregularities
Tuesday's raids served multiple investigative purposes. ED officials aimed to achieve several critical goals.
- Trace the movement of illicit funds generated from the melted gold
- Identify all beneficiaries of the criminal scheme
- Seize incriminating documents and digital evidence
- Map the complete scale of the money laundering operation
The investigation has also flagged additional financial irregularities at Sabarimala. These include potential misappropriation of temple offerings and ritual proceeds. All these matters now fall under the PMLA scanner for possible money laundering connections.
This case represents one of the most significant temple asset investigations in recent years. It highlights concerns about the security and management of religious properties across the country.
