NEW DELHI: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) conducted searches during the early hours of Tuesday at 21 locations across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with the misappropriation of gold and other temple assets relating to Sabarimala Temple.
The investigation arises out of multiple FIRs registered by the Kerala Crime Branch which reveal a deep-rooted criminal conspiracy involving officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board, private individuals, intermediaries and jewellers, ED sources said.
The anti-money laundering agency’s Kochi unit had registered an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the matter on January 9, after getting the favourable order from the court, ED sources said.
Preliminary investigation has disclosed that gold-clad sacred artefacts were deliberately misrepresented as “copper plates” in official records and unlawfully removed from the temple premises during the period 2019–2025.
The gold was allegedly extracted through chemical processes at private facilities in Chennai and Karnataka, generating proceeds of crime which were retained, transferred and concealed, sources informed further.
The searches were conducted to trace the proceeds of crime, identify beneficiaries, seize incriminating documents and digital evidence and ascertain the full extent of money laundering involved.
The investigation has also revealed indications of other financial irregularities and scams at Sabarimala, including misappropriation related to temple offerings and rituals, which are also being examined under the PMLA framework, ED sources informed.
The Central agency’s intervention comes at a time when the politically sensitive case is already being investigated by a special investigation team (SIT) under the supervision of the Kerala High Court. As many as 12 persons have been arrested so far.
Incidentally while the ECIR had been filed by ED on January 9, Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to Thiruvananthapuram on January 11 had attacked the Left Front government of the state by asking Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to hand over the probe into the matter to a neutral investigating agency to bring all the culprits to justice.
“Those who failed to protect the sacred properties of Sabarimala cannot safeguard the faith of the people,” he had said.
Stating that the police First Information Report (FIR) in the Sabarimala gold heist case contained loopholes that could help the accused escape, Shah had demanded a probe by a neutral investigation agency to bring all the culprits to justice.
“The Chief Minister should hand over the probe to a neutral investigation agency. The BJP will carry out protests and door-to-door awareness campaigns. This is democracy, Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, and you must order a probe by a neutral agency,” Shah had said on January 11.