Kerala’s Sabarimala Ayyappa temple is reeling from a brazen gold robbery, with the SIT arresting the chief Tantri and the ED stepping in with a high-stakes money laundering case. The twin actions mark a dramatic escalation in the probe into the disappearance of 350 sovereigns worth crores from the shrine’s holiest vault.
It all began when routine inventory checks post-monsoon exposed the massive breach. Hidden cameras captured shadowy figures tampering with the gold chest on a quiet night. The SIT’s breakthrough came via digital forensics, tracing the Tantri’s mobile signals to the spot at the exact time of theft.
Kan thi Swamy, the 68-year-old Tantri from Tamil Nadu, was whisked away in a covert operation. Interrogations revealed inconsistencies in his alibi, and traces of gold dust on his robes fueled suspicions. Temple insiders whisper of internal rivalries fueling the plot, with the Tantri possibly betrayed by aides.
The ED’s PMLA complaint alleges the pilfered gold fueled an underground economy, routed through Dubai-based traders. Agency sleuths have seized bank records and are grilling goldsmiths linked to the family. This isn’t just theft; it’s a potential terror financing angle, sources hint.
Public fury is boiling over. Protests erupted outside the temple board office, with devotees chanting for purification rites. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan faces heat from all quarters, as the scandal threatens pilgrimage season hype. Experts call for tech upgrades like AI surveillance in sacred sites.
Historically, Sabarimala has faced such shadows, but this Tantri angle strikes at the heart of Vedic traditions. As custody extends, the nation watches if justice will restore faith in this pilgrimage powerhouse.
