Four-Member VACB Team to Investigate Sabarimala Flag Mast Irregularities
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has constituted a four-member special investigation team to Investigate the alleged misappropriation of gold and funds related to the installation of a new flag mast or flagstaff (Kodimaram) at the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa temple in 2017. The action follows directions issued by the Kerala High Court.
The probe team will function under the supervision of the VACB Southern Range Superintendent of Police. Deputy Superintendent of Police C.S. Hari of VACB SIU-1 has been appointed as the investigating officer. The team also includes Saji Shankar, Circle Inspector, VACB SIU-1; R. Rajesh, Circle Inspector, ACB Pathanamthitta; and Aji G. Nath, Circle Inspector, VACB Southern Range.
The Kerala High Court on Monday ordered a vigilance inquiry after reviewing a report submitted by the Sabarimala Chief Vigilance Officer. The report was filed in response to a complaint by a devotee alleging irregularities in the installation of the temple’s flag mast.
According to the Chief Vigilance Officer’s findings, discrepancies identified during the preliminary examination were serious and required a detailed investigation. The report indicated the possibility of offences such as criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, falsification of records, and cheating.
These alleged offences are punishable under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The VACB team is expected to begin a comprehensive probe into the financial and material transactions connected with the project.
According to available records, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) had recommended installing a new flag mast during the tenure of the then UDF government, citing concerns that termites had affected the existing pillar, which was covered with gold-plated copper cladding, making it structurally unsafe. The Board subsequently obtained ritual sanction from then senior Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru for installing the new mast.
Donations for the construction — including gold and cash offerings — were collected through a sponsorship mechanism and routed to the temple through Unnikrishnan Potti, who has since been arraigned as the main accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The TDB’s internal vigilance wing later expressed doubts about whether proper records of the donations were maintained and whether a scientific audit was conducted to verify how the gold and funds were utilised.
The vigilance wing also raised questions over the decision to gift the gold-plated horse statuette(Vajivahanam) mounted atop the flag mast to the Tantri, citing possible violation of the temple manual. In 2025, the High Court-appointed Crime Branch SIT probing the gold theft case recovered the Vajivahanam from the Tantri’s residence after naming him as an accused.
Reacting to the probe, several UDF leaders, including former TDB member and Congress leader Ajay Tharayil, welcomed the investigation but denied any wrongdoing. They stated that the High Court-appointed Amicus Curiae had not faulted the Board’s decisions, including the customary practice of gifting the idol from the dismantled flag mast to the Tantri. Opposition leaders also alleged political motives behind the timing of related summons and inquiries, while the ruling LDF maintained that the investigations are impartial and under High Court monitoring.