Missing gold row: TVM temple rejects findings of Kerala Police, demands action against top cop

Thiruvananthapuram: The administrative committee of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple on Friday rejected a Kerala Police report alleging missing valuables and security lapses at the shrine, and sought action against the officers who prepared it.

The committee said a detailed internal verification found that the diamond ornament described as “missing” in the police report was “safely kept inside the sanctum sanctorum”.

It also said the ceremonial lamp worship plate was present in the temple, following a direct inspection carried out on the premises.

The temple executive officer had earlier submitted a report after inspection of ornaments, lamps and inventory records, confirming that gold coins, gold bars and other offerings made by devotees were securely preserved and properly accounted for.

The committee rejected claims that there was a shortage of 72 grams of gold from devotees’ offerings, saying records confirmed the allegation was incorrect.

It also said periodic audits of temple valuables were being conducted.

Allegations of security breach and access route dismissed

The committee said the allegation that certain individuals entered and exited the temple without undergoing security checks was “factually incorrect”.

It added that entry through the Chembakathinmoodu pathway was restricted to temple priests and members of the royal family, and no other persons were permitted to use it.

Rejecting claims of security breaches, the committee said all devotees, staff and guests entering the temple were subject to screening by the Kerala Police security wing stationed at the shrine.

The committee further accused the officers concerned of submitting a “factually incorrect report” without consulting temple authorities or conducting a proper inquiry.

It said the report had “damaged the credibility and tarnished the reputation” of both the temple administration and the governing committee.

Government to be approached over report, earlier allegations disputed

At a meeting held on Friday, the administrative committee decided to seek action from the Kerala government against the officers responsible for the report, and said the matter would be raised with the chief minister, home minister and the DGP.

Earlier, the temple administration had dismissed allegations relating to missing valuables, improper handling of offerings and security breaches as “baseless and false”.

The temple executive officer had termed such claims as “malicious” attempts to damage the temple’s image and mislead the public.

The controversy surfaced after media reports claimed that around 78 grams of gold bars and coins offered by devotees were allegedly missing, and referred to a police communication flagging “serious security lapses” at the shrine.

Kerala Devaswoms Minister K Muraleedharan had earlier said the government had sought a report into the allegations and stated that “no one will be allowed to meddle with temple property”.

The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, managed by a committee representing both the Centre and the Kerala government, is among India’s richest and most prominent temples.

In 2011, several underground vaults were opened following a Supreme Court order directing an inventory of assets, revealing large treasures of gold, jewels and precious stones estimated to be worth billions of dollars.