Sabarimala Gold Smuggling Case: ED Conducts Multi-State Raids at 21 Locations
Enforcement Directorate searches premises of all accused across Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
New Delhi, Jan 20: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday launched extensive multi-state raids at 21 locations in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the alleged Sabarimala gold smuggling case.
According to officials, searches are underway at the premises of all accused, including the residence of former Travancore Devaswom Board president and prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti. Raids are also being conducted at locations linked to former Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar, N Vasu, Murari Babu, and gold traders Govardhan and Pankaj Bhandari.
ED teams are searching the office of Smart Creations in Chennai and the residence of Bellary-based gold trader Govardhan. The coordinated operations span Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Raids are also underway at the Travancore Devaswom Board headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. Officials said the agency is simultaneously targeting all individuals and institutions allegedly linked to the case to trace the money trail.
With Kerala Assembly elections due later this year, the ED has intensified its probe into the high-profile gold smuggling case. While a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing the alleged smuggling and theft, the central agency has launched a parallel investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
What Is the Sabarimala Gold Smuggling Case?
The Sabarimala gold smuggling case relates to the alleged misappropriation of around 4.54 kilograms of gold from sacred temple artefacts, including the sanctum sanctorum door frames and Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.
The alleged theft is said to have taken place in 2019 under the pretext of regold-plating temple structures.
The controversy traces back to a donation made in 1998, when fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya donated 30.3 kilograms of gold and around 1,900 kilograms of copper for gold plating and cladding at the temple. Subsequent inspections and court-monitored inquiries reportedly found discrepancies between the quantity of gold donated and the amount actually used.
Investigators are now examining whether the missing gold was siphoned off and laundered through commercial channels, leading to the ongoing ED action.
