The Enforcement Directorate has stepped up its investigation into the Sabarimala gold theft case by launching coordinated raids across multiple states in southern India. Search operations were carried out at several locations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as part of a money-laundering probe linked to the alleged misappropriation of valuable temple assets.
Officials said the action forms a key phase of the agency’s efforts to trace the financial trail connected to the suspected theft of gold from the renowned Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa shrine. The raids targeted premises linked to individuals and entities believed to be involved in handling, processing or concealing proceeds derived from the alleged offence.
The investigation has been registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following the filing of an Enforcement Case Information Report earlier this month. Authorities are examining financial records, digital data and transaction trails to determine how the alleged proceeds were moved and whether multiple intermediaries were used to mask the origin of the assets.
According to officials familiar with the probe, sacred artefacts coated with gold were allegedly misrepresented in official documentation as copper-based items during maintenance and repair processes. It is suspected that these items were transported to private facilities outside Kerala, where the gold layer was chemically extracted. The recovered material was then allegedly diverted through unauthorised channels.
The case has drawn significant public attention due to the religious and cultural importance of the Sabarimala temple, one of the most prominent pilgrimage sites in the country. Investigators believe the alleged operation involved systematic manipulation of records and coordination among several individuals to bypass oversight mechanisms.
Among the locations searched were offices and residences linked to former officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the temple, as well as private individuals suspected of participating in the processing and movement of the gold. The agency has not yet disclosed the exact quantity or estimated value of the material involved, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
The Enforcement Directorate’s probe is running parallel to a criminal investigation being conducted by a Special Investigation Team constituted on the directions of the Kerala High Court. While the SIT is focusing on criminal liability and accountability, the central agency is concentrating on identifying proceeds of crime and possible violations of financial laws.
Officials said further action may follow as more evidence is analysed. Additional searches, summons and questioning of suspects are expected in the coming days as the agency works to establish the full scope of the alleged network behind the operation.
The latest raids underline the government’s increasing emphasis on safeguarding public and religious assets and ensuring transparency in the management of temple resources. Authorities have maintained that all findings will be presented before the appropriate legal forums once the investigation reaches a decisive stage.
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