Kerala High Court and ED Investigate Systematic Gold Misappropriation at Sabarimala Temple

The Kerala High Court has observed that the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala temple's Dwarapalaka idols and door frames was systematic and methodical. Scientific analysis by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre confirmed that original gold plating from 1998 was replaced with lower-quality materials during 2019 renovations. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing the case, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched raids across Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu targeting suspects linked to money laundering. The investigation involves officials, temple authorities, and traders amid demands for a CBI probe and concerns over administrative lapses.