Kerala HC Demands Records on Sabarimala Gold Plating Since 1998
Kochi | September 12, 2025 – The Kerala High Court has intensified its scrutiny over the recent controversy surrounding the removal of gold-plated sheets from the Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala shrine for repair in Chennai. The court has directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to immediately submit all records related to the gold plating of the shrine since 1998.
The Devaswom Bench, comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan and K. V. Jayakumar, ordered that registers, Mahasar records, and all related documents concerning the gold plating of the sanctum, Dwarapalaka sculptures, lintel, and arch must be produced without delay.
The directive came after it was revealed that the gold sheets had been transported to Chennai without prior court approval. The Board apologized to the Court for removing the gold plates without permission, explaining that the sheets were originally sponsored in 2019 by a Malayali businessman in Chennai through the company Smart Creations, which was also tasked with their repair. The court has now instructed that the company be made a party to the ongoing case.
Further, the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer has been asked to present all records maintained at the Aranmula Thiruvabharanam office related to the gold plating process.
The shrine’s Dwarapalaka sculptures, made of granite, were covered with gold-plated copper sheets in 2019. Earlier, in 1998, industrialist Vijay Mallya had sponsored a major gold plating of the temple. By calling for records spanning over two decades, the court indicated that it intends to closely examine the procedures followed for such works and ensure transparency in the handling of temple assets.