Enforcement agencies, led by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), have carried out an extensive operation in connection with the ongoing Sabarimala gold theft and alleged money-laundering case. On Tuesday, ED teams conducted coordinated raids at 21 locations across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, marking a significant escalation in the probe that has drawn intense public and legal interest.
The searches were executed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and focused on properties connected to several key figures linked to the case, including officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board and other private individuals. Officials involved in the operation sought to seize incriminating documents, digital evidence and bank transaction details to trace proceeds of crime and uncover the full extent of the alleged financial irregularities.
Preliminary findings suggest that gold-plated sacred artefacts from the Sabarimala temple, including elements such as copper plates believed to be misrepresented in official records, were allegedly removed from the shrine between 2019 and 2025 under suspicious circumstances. ED sources said the raids aim to expose deeper layers of the conspiracy and identify individuals who may have facilitated money laundering or benefited financially from the purported misappropriation.
The operation saw participation from over 100 officers from various ED zonal units, including teams from Kochi, Bengaluru and Chennai. Searches were conducted at institutional headquarters as well as the residences of accused persons, with seizures already reported of several key pieces of evidence now being transported for detailed forensic examination.
This federal probe by the ED runs parallel to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigation overseen by the Kerala High Court, which is examining alleged theft and administrative lapses connected to the handling of temple assets. The dual probes reflect the complexity of the case and the serious legal scrutiny it has attracted.
Authorities have not disclosed specific quantities of gold involved or the identities of all individuals targeted in the raids, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. However, officials reiterated that the operation is focused on tracing illicit funds, uncovering criminal networks and securing comprehensive evidence to support prosecutions under money-laundering statutes.
News as reported
