A dramatic turn in the investigation into the gold theft at Sabarimala temple. On Friday, the Special Investigation Team or SIT handling this investigation arrested the temple's head tantri, meaning the chief priest, Kandararu Rajeevaru. This is the first time in the temple's history that a member of the tantri family has been arrested on theft charges. This has created an uproar across Kerala during the festival season.
Arrest of tantri marks first such action in Sabarimala’s history
According to SIT sources, the main allegation against Rajeevaru is that he provided Unnikrishnan Potti, the main accused in this scandal, with access to the temple. The allegation is that Rajeevaru appointed Potti as an assistant in 2007-08. Subsequently, between 2019 and 2025, Potti allegedly removed large quantities of gold from the temple under the pretext of 'gold plating' the temple's deity and doors.
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The arrest comes just days ahead of the Makaravilakku festival, one of the most sacred events associated with the Sabarimala pilgrimage. This timing has intensified reactions among devotees, many of whom have expressed anger and concern over the developments. Temple authorities and the Devaswom Board have refrained from making detailed public statements, citing the ongoing judicial process.
The Kerala High Court has already stated that this theft is not an ordinary crime but a highly planned conspiracy. A total of 9 people have already been arrested in this incident, including a former official of the Travancore Devaswom Board and a CPIM leader. However, no temple tantri like Rajeevaru had been implicated in this case before. The next hearing of this case is on January 19. The arrest of the chief priest just before the sacred Makaravilakku festival has created intense anger and unrest among devotees.
