Kerala High Court Directs Vigilance Inquiry Into Alleged Gold Theft During Sabarimala Flag Mast Work

The Kerala High Court ordered the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations that gold went missing during the replacement of the flag mast at the Sabarimala temple in 2017.

The case arose from a complaint by a devotee and vigilance findings pointing to discrepancies in the accounting of gold donations, including the absence of individual donor receipts and inconsistencies in the quantity shown as utilised.

The Court held that the allegations required an independent probe by the VACB and directed submission of a report within 30 days.

Separately, the Court permitted the SIT probing alleged gold theft from the Dwarapalaka idols and Sreekovil door frames to undertake advanced scientific and metallurgical testing through national institutions.