Sabarimala's Golden Secret: Former Insider Unmasks 15 in Explosive Temple Heist Scandal

A sensational exposé has rocked the hallowed grounds of Sabarimala, with a former employee, Unnikrishnan Potti, dropping a bombshell that implicates no less than 15 individuals, including several senior Devaswom Board officials, in a long-standing gold pilfering operation from the temple's sacred treasury.

Potti's audacious claims paint a grim picture of systemic corruption, alleging that valuable gold from the Sabarimala Sannidhanam's 'bhandaram' (treasure trove) was systematically siphoned off, only to be replaced with copper.

Potti, who previously served as a clerk at the Sabarimala Devaswom, courageously pointed fingers at prominent figures, including former Executive Officer N.

Vasu and former Assistant Executive Officer N. Sasi Kumar. His detailed allegations suggest a sophisticated scheme where official records were meticulously manipulated to cover up the illicit activities, effectively turning a blind eye to the disappearance of precious temple assets.

This isn't the first time the alarm has been raised.

Potti reveals that he had brought these discrepancies to light as early as 1990. His initial complaints triggered an investigation led by then-Special Officer M.R. Jayaraman. Jayaraman's findings were damning: his report conclusively established that a significant quantity of gold, approximately 7.5 kilograms, had vanished.

Valued at Rs 1.75 crore at the time, this represented a colossal loss to the temple's endowments.

However, the pursuit of truth was allegedly met with powerful resistance. Potti claims that Jayaraman's explosive report, which could have unraveled the scandal decades ago, was deliberately suppressed.

He contends that intense pressure from the very officials implicated in the theft led to the report being shelved, allowing the alleged perpetrators to continue their activities unchecked and evade accountability.

Undeterred, Potti continued his fight for justice, eventually taking his pleas to the Kerala High Court.

He vehemently pushed for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry, believing only a federal agency could uncover the full extent of the conspiracy. While the High Court initially declined a CBI probe, it did not dismiss the gravity of the allegations. Instead, it issued stern directives, ordering the state police to intensify their investigation into the matter, acknowledging the seriousness of the claims and the need for a thorough inquiry.

Adding another layer to his allegations, Potti asserted that the highly publicized 'gold-plating' of the Sabarimala sreekovil in 1996 might have been a calculated move to distract public attention and serve as a convenient cover-up for the ongoing pilfering activities.

He argues that this grand gesture was strategically timed to divert scrutiny away from the true extent of the missing gold, implying a deeper, more entrenched network of corruption.

As these shocking revelations come to light, the demand for transparency and accountability echoes louder than ever.

Potti's unwavering determination to expose this decades-old scandal calls for an immediate and high-level inquiry to finally bring those responsible to justice and restore faith in the sanctity of one of India's most revered pilgrimage sites.