Kerala Minister Seeks Independent Inquiry into Sabarimala Gold Loss

A 4.54-kilogram gold discrepancy at the Sabarimala temple has triggered a political firestorm, prompting Kerala Devaswoms Minister K Muraleedharan to demand an autonomous investigation. The minister is pushing for independent oversight to address the missing precious metal, which was originally part of a 30.3-kilogram donation intended for temple refurbishments.

Editorial·July 15, 2026·reads: 3,452

Kerala Minister Seeks Independent Inquiry into Sabarimala Gold Loss

The controversy traces back to a 1998 contribution from industrialist Vijay Mallya, meant for the sanctum sanctorum. Recent inspections uncovered a significant shortfall between the gold donated and the amount actually utilized, casting a long shadow over the previous Left government. With state elections approaching in 2026, the opposition is leveraging the findings to challenge the administration's historical oversight of religious institutions.

Former Travancore Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar, a CPI(M) MLA, was previously ousted following the scandal's initial emergence. Beyond the temple theft, Muraleedharan is widening his administrative scrutiny, signaling intent to hold Health Services Department officials accountable for missing funds linked to the COVID-19 pandemic era.