A serious security lapse has surfaced at the sacred Sabarimala temple following the disappearance of a precious 446-gram gold crown from the Sannidhanam strongroom. The audit revealed that the genuine article was not merely stolen but systematically swapped with an inferior replica to conceal the theft. The discovery unfolded during an exhaustive official inventory check and purity verification of the temple's sacred ornaments, raising immediate alarms across the temple administration.
High Court Commission Uncovers the Discrepancy
The extensive verification exercise is being carried out pursuant to strict directives from the Kerala High Court, under the supervision of Justice K.T. Sankaran. While meticulously reviewing and cross-verifying the consecrated jewels, the inspection team noticed stark physical and compositional irregularities in the crown stored in the strongroom. Detailed expert examination subsequently confirmed that the item present was a counterfeit or low-value substitute rather than the authentic solid gold piece.
Donated by Tamil Nadu Devotees in 2012
Official records show that the 446-gram gold crown had been offered to the Sabarimala nada by devotees from Tamil Nadu in 2012. Protocols dictated that the precious ornament was supposed to be shifted securely from Sannidhanam to the primary repository located at the Aranmula strongroom. However, the crown had been placed in a designated spot that fell entirely outside the coverage of surveillance CCTV cameras, a lapse that has now cast severe suspicion on the internal operational procedures of that period.
Gold Chain Also Missing from Aranmula Strongroom
The audit irregularities extend beyond the swapped crown. During the same verification drive, a four-gram gold chain was detected missing from the Aranmula Devaswom strongroom. The concurrent detection of missing and replaced gold ornaments across two separate high-security facilities has compounded the severity of the investigation, pointing toward possible insider collusion rather than an isolated external incident.
Devaswom Board Promises Stringent Accountability
Addressing the alarming revelations, Travancore Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar affirmed that a thorough and unsparing inquiry will be conducted into all lapses and systemic breakdowns. The investigation will closely examine the conduct and responsibilities of officials and staff members stationed at the vaults during the timeframe the crown was housed outside camera view.
The initial phase report of the inventory verification headed by Justice K.T. Sankaran is scheduled to be submitted before the Kerala High Court in the first week of next month. Jayakumar noted that further course of action, including potentially handing over the entire criminal investigation to a special investigation team, will be determined following the submission of the High Court report. The board has pledged stern action against anyone found culpable in the breach.
