Published Mar 01, 2026 | 1:00 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 01, 2026 | 1:00 PM
Sabarimala gold theft. (South First)
Synopsis: Actors Mohanlal and Dileep, and Union Minister Suresh Gopi, are among those who recently faced questioning by the Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in relation to one of several investigations into the alleged misappropriation of gold at the famed Sabarimala temple. The probe was ordered by the High Court after a vigilance report noted discrepancies in gold—a fraction of which was sourced from 27 donors—used for a new flag mast at the temple in 2017.
Some of the biggest names in the Malayalam film industry have now been drawn into one of several investigations into alleged misappropriation of gold and financial irregularities at the famed Sabarimala temple in Kerala.
A report submitted to the Kerala High Court by the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board flagged multiple irregularities in a 2017 project to install a new flag mast at the temple.
On 9 February, the court ordered the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate the irregularities and submit a report within 30 days.
So far, the VACB has recorded statements from 22 of the 27 people who donated gold and money for the project, including some of the biggest names in Mollywood: actors Mohanlal and Dileep.
Suresh Gopi reportedly donated a five-sovereign gold crown to Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral in Thrissur.
Mohanlal’s statement was recorded in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, while Dileep’s was taken in Kochi on Wednesday.
Actor-Union Minister Suresh Gopi, filmmaker Shaji Kailas, actor-writer Renji Panicker and producer Suresh Kumar had recorded their statements earlier.
Visuals of several of these personalities attending the consecration ceremony had surfaced earlier.
Suresh Gopi had earlier said he personally affixed gold sheets on the Vajivahanam atop the flag mast, and that his son Gokul Suresh, director Shaji Kailas and screenwriter Renji Panicker helped fix gold on the Ashtadikpalaka idols.
The probe stems from discrepancies flagged in the accounting of gold used for the new flag mast at the Sabarimala temple.
According to the CVO report, the Devaswom Board approved an estimate of ₹3.20 crore on 23 September 2016 and decided the project would be fully funded by Phoenix Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad.
On 22 March 2017, 9.161 kg of gold was purchased from the Customs Department, and devotees contributed another 412 grams, bringing the total available gold to 9,573.010 grams.
But only 9,340.2 grams were officially recorded as having been used for the flag mast.
The High Court noted this gap and criticised the absence of individual donor receipts, calling it a serious procedural lapse and a violation of Devaswom rules and financial accountability norms.
Actor Dileep at Sabarimala temple
Permission had not been granted to gold-plate the thazhikakkudams (kalash), though proposals were made and partly carried out amid disputes.
The court also cited earlier findings by High Court-appointed Advocate Commissioner ASP Kurup. His 2018 report flagged disagreements during the work and irregularities in accounting.
Kurup’s report listed industrialists, actors and devotees, including Suresh Gopi, Mohanlal, Renji Panicker and M Renjith, as contributors of gold used for the Vajivahanam (horse idol) and the Ashtadikpalaka idols.
The court directed that each of the 27 donors be contacted individually to verify the quantity of gold contributed, warning that failure to establish clarity could lead to the registration of a criminal case.
A VACB official told South First that Mohanlal said Suresh Gopi had asked him to donate gold.
“[Mohanlal] said he bought two sovereigns of gold from a jeweller in Thiruvananthapuram and sent it to Pampa through a friend. The exact quantity of gold donated by Dileep is yet to be clearly established,” the official said.
A Mollywood donor whose statement has been recorded by the Vigilance team, and who requested anonymity, told South First that faith plays a prominent role in the industry.
“Most of us are believers; not everyone is an atheist. Cinema is not just about stardom and creativity – it is also a business involving crores of rupees, and many livelihoods depend on it,” he said.
“This industry survives not only on talent but also on luck. And luck often leads people towards faith. That is why I chose to make the donation – sincerely and with prayers. But those who exploit our faith must answer before both the law and God,” he added.
The months-long investigation into the alleged gold theft at Sabarimala widened in January after the gold-plated Vajivahanam was seized from the residence of the chief priest (Tantri), Kandararu Rajeevaru, in Chengannur.
The artefact was produced before the Vigilance Court in Kollam, and the Tantri was indicted for unauthorised possession of public property.
A High Court Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar is supervising the wider investigation.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the court is separately examining the Travancore Devaswom Board’s 2017 decision to gift the Vajivahanam to the Tantri. Former TDB member Ajay Tharayil had defended the decision, saying it was the Tantri’s right and had the advocate commissioner’s approval.
ADGP H Venkatesh is overseeing the SIT examining the alleged Sabarimala gold-plating fraud. A separate SIT, headed by Crime Branch SP S Sasidharan, is probing the suspected loss of more than 4 kg of gold from temple artefacts.
