Kerala Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala claims CM protecting Sabarimala gold suspects

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday intensified his attack on the Kerala government, alleging that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was attempting to protect those involved in the Sabarimala Temple gold loss case. He said the controversy had deeply hurt the sentiments of crores of Lord Ayyappa devotees and raised serious doubts about the transparency of temple administration.

Chennithala pointed out that the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the statutory body that has traditionally managed Sabarimala’s assets and rituals, is responsible for safeguarding gold ornaments, vessels and other offerings dedicated by devotees. The Board, he argued, functions under government oversight, making the administration answerable for any lapses involving temple property.

The Congress leader noted that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the missing-gold case has made significant headway, arresting former TDB presidents A Padmakumar and N Vasu along with other officials. According to SIT findings, gold-plated sheets were allegedly taken out of temple custody by misclassifying them as copper sheets, suggesting a planned attempt to remove valuable items under the guise of routine repairs. The SIT has also invoked provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, indicating suspected misuse of official authority.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday criticised the Kerala government over the Sabarimala Temple gold theft case, which came to light in early 2020 when a significant quantity of gold was reported missing from the temple’s vault. The theft prompted a wide-ranging investigation and several arrests, but questions about the involvement of higher-level political figures have continued to loom.

Chennithala alleged that despite these arrests, the probe was deliberately prevented from reaching those at higher political levels. Referring to a remark by police officer Padmakumar about a “god-like person” linked to the case, he asked pointedly: “In the Marxist party, who is god-like other than Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan?” He claimed that the investigation was restricted from examining ministers, who he said enjoyed the Chief Minister’s protection.

The Congress leader warned that if these allegations gain traction, the government could face serious political repercussions. The controversy, touching both religious sentiment and corruption, has the potential to erode public trust, revive memories of previous Sabarimala disputes, and strengthen opposition attacks ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. With the Special Investigation Team (SIT) continuing its inquiry and the High Court monitoring the progress, Chennithala said devotees were now anxiously awaiting the full truth.