Chennithala had alleged that the case is part of a larger, well-organised international smuggling operation and not a simple theft.
Published Dec 07, 2025 | 3:47 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 07, 2025 | 3:47 PM
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala (Supplied)
Synopsis: The Special Investigation Team probing the Sabarimala gold theft in Kerala informed senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala over the phone that it will record his statement in connection with the case. Chennithala alleged that the case is part of a larger, well-organised international smuggling operation and not a simple theft.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold theft in Kerala informed senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala over the phone that it will record his statement in connection with the case. He is scheduled to give his statement on Wednesday, 10 December.
Chennithala had alleged that the case is part of a larger, well-organised international smuggling operation and not a simple theft.
He claimed that the missing gold plates were sold in the international black market for around ₹500 crore and urged the SIT to widen its probe to examine possible links with global antiquities smuggling rackets.
In a letter to Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H Venkatesh, head of the SIT, he said he received credible information from a person familiar with antique smuggling networks, indicating a conspiracy involving temple authorities and organised smugglers.
He claimed that the missing gold bars may have been traded for nearly ₹500 crore on the global black market for antiquities. According to him, the source had shared details suggesting that elements within the Devaswom Board may have had close ties with a temple theft and smuggling racket operating across the state.
Chennithala said that he had independently verified the information and found it reliable. “The Sabarimala gold theft is not an isolated incident but part of a larger conspiracy involving the plundering and smuggling of priceless temple antiques,” Chennithala wrote.
He alleged that those arrested so far were only “co-actors,” while the real masterminds — individuals with international financial networks and influence—were yet to be investigated.
Referring to the Kerala High Court’s observation that the methods used by the Sabarimala theft gang resemble those of notorious international smuggler Subhash Kapoor, Chennithala said the finding should be treated with utmost seriousness.
He also pointed to the SIT’s failure to trace the missing gold as further evidence of international involvement.
The Congress leader said the intermediary jeweller questioned by the SIT, Govardhan, was “just a pawn,” and claimed that certain industrialists and organised rackets in Kerala were connected to the operation.
He added that a person with direct knowledge of the alleged smuggling network was willing to cooperate with investigators and even testify in court, provided his identity remained protected.
Chennithala urged the SIT to widen the probe to uncover the “larger conspiracy,” and said he was prepared to share additional information if the investigation moved in that direction.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman.)
