Sabarimala gold missing row: Timeline of controversy

On September 4, 1998, the sanctum sanctorum, roof, and Dwarapalaka sculptures at Sabarimala were covered using 30.3 kg of gold and 1,900 kg of copper, at an expense of Rs 18 crore. This was offered as a gift by Vijay Mallya.

1999: The gold-plated sheets were fixed on the sculptures. At the time, GK Menon was Devaswom President, Kandararu Maheswararu was Tantri, and Kandararu Mohanaru was assistant.

2019, July 7: The Devaswom Board issued an order for the renovation of the sanctum sanctorum doors and the copper sheets covering the Dwarapalaka sculptures.

• After 20 days, the Devaswom Board sent a special letter to Unnikrishnan Potty, instructing him to take the copper sheets from the sculptures to Smart Creations factory in Chennai, have them gold-plated, and bring them back. The sheets, however, were taken to Chennai only after 39 days.
• Originally weighing 42 kg, they were returned after gold-plating with 394.6 grams of gold, but the total weight had reduced to 38 kg.
• No inquiry was made into how the weight had reduced or why there was a delay in taking the sheets to the factory. At that time, A. Padmakumar was the Devaswom President.

2020: The wooden pedestals lost their shine. The sponsor informed the Devaswom Board that new ones could be made. An assistant came and took measurements.

2021: Two pedestals covered with three sovereigns of gold were offered at Sabarimala. They were fixed on the wooden pedestals, but the Board informed Unnikrishnan Potty that the size was too big.

2023: Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu stated that the sculptures were damaged and needed repair.

2024: Unnikrishnan Potty sent an email saying repairs could be done. The Board gave permission. He also mentioned that if the gold pedestals kept in the strong room were given, gold plating could be done with less expense.

2025, September 7: After closing the temple at night, the gold-plated sheets from the wooden pedestals were removed and taken to Chennai.

2025, September 8: The Special Commissioner submitted a report to the High Court against these activities.

2025, September 9: The Court ordered that the sheets taken to Chennai must be brought back. The Court also questioned how Unnikrishnan Potty knew about the gold pedestals in the strong room.

2025, September 10: The Devaswom Board informed the Court that the gold-plated sheets had been melted. Potty replied that the mention of the gold pedestals in the mail was a mistake made by his assistant. The Court ordered the seizure of records and to locate the gold pedestals.

2025, September 13–14: During inspection of the strong room, the Devaswom Vigilance found that the Dwarapalaka pedestals were missing.

2025, September 29: The Court observed that there were no proper accounts or registers for the gold offerings at Sabarimala. It ordered a check of the strong room and proper accounting. Retired High Court Justice KT Shankaran was appointed for supervision.

2025, September 30: The gold-plated pedestals missing since 2021 were found in the house of Unnikrishnan Potty’s sister.

2025, October 2: A representative of Smart Creations stated that they had done electroplating on new copper sheets in 2019.

2025, October 3: Devaswom Board President PS Prasanth said that the guilty will not be protected.