Published Sep 24, 2026 | 11:36 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 24, 2026 | 11:36 AM
Sabarimala Temple. (Special Arrangement)
Has a gold crown weighing 55.72 sovereigns (around 446 grams), which was offered by devotees from Tamil Nadu in August 2012, gone missing?
The crown was recorded in the Thiruvabharanam register, but an inventory check at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam strongroom initially raised doubts after an imitation crown was found in its place.
The imitation, made of base metal and studded with white stones resembling diamonds, weighs around 240 grams. The original crown had been recorded as weighing 445.78 grams.
The Travancore Devaswom Board, however, has clarified that the gold crown is safe.
The Thiruvabharanam Commissioner has informed the Board that both the genuine gold crown and the so-called fancy crowns are securely kept in the Sannidhanam strongroom.
An explanation has also been submitted to the Devaswom Commissioner.
The Commissioner pointed out that devotees offer various items as Thiruvabharanam, including ornaments made of materials other than gold.
While the crown has been accounted for, doubts regarding certain other items have reportedly prompted further inspections.
The controversy has also widened with reports of a four-sovereign gold chain going missing from a Travancore Devaswom Board strongroom at Aranmula.
In another development, the disappearance of gem-studded silver tusks from the OTC Hanuman Temple near the Legislative Assembly complex in Thiruvananthapuram has also come to light.
Travancore Devaswom Board president K Jayakumar has ordered an investigation into the incidents. He said that if any theft has occurred, it would be treated with all seriousness.
The allegations have arisen amid an ongoing probe into the reported irregularities involving gold at Sabarimala.
That probe stemmed from discrepancies flagged in the accounting of gold used for the new flag mast at the Sabarimala temple.
According to the Chief Vigilance Officer’s report, the Devaswom Board had approved an estimate of ₹3.20 crore on September 23, 2016 and decided that the project would be fully funded by Phoenix Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad.
On March 22, 2017, 9.161 kg of gold was purchased from the Customs Department, while devotees contributed another 412 grams, taking the total quantity of available gold to 9,573.010 grams.
However, only 9,340.2 grams were officially recorded as having been used for the flag mast.
On September 18, Keralam Devaswom and Health Minister K Muraleedharan had said the government “isn’t going to sit idle” if the Special Investigation Team probing the case failed to file a charge sheet within the deadline set by the High Court.
“I spoke with the Advocate General. I sought legal advice on what steps to take if the charge sheet isn’t filed before the court-mandated deadline,” he was quoted as saying.
From our archives:
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
