Amid the controversy surrounding the Sabarimala gold theft case and allegations of administrative lapses within the Travancore Devaswom Board, a report submitted by Ravada A Chandrasekhar, Director General of Police (DGP), has reportedly flagged serious security concerns and instances of theft at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple as well.
According to the report submitted to the Home Department, nearly 78 grams of gold bars and coins reportedly offered by devotees to the temple have gone missing over the past few months, raising fresh concerns over the handling and safeguarding of temple valuables.
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The report also highlighted irregularities involving temple valuables and maintenance procedures. It stated that a multi-tiered gold lamp removed for maintenance was allegedly replaced with a silver substitute without any official documentation or records. Additionally, the “Vaira Nama,” a valuable ornament installed inside the sanctum sanctorum, was reportedly removed for repairs and has remained absent for nearly six months.
Further observations in the report pointed to serious lapses in security screening procedures within the temple premises. According to the findings, certain temple employees, security personnel and individuals linked to the royal family were allegedly bypassing mandatory security checks at the entrance.
The report reportedly named individuals who frequently entered the temple premises without undergoing standard screening procedures. It further claimed that some of them were close associates of Aditya Varma and were known to regularly visit Kowdiar Palace.
In light of the alleged mismanagement and security concerns, the report recommended shifting all gold and silver valuables currently stored outside the vaults into a centralised strong room for enhanced protection. It also proposed that all valuable offerings made by devotees should be systematically documented and stored in designated lockers under strict police monitoring and surveillance.
The report further stressed the need for strict enforcement of security protocols inside the temple, recommending that no individual — irrespective of status, position or affiliation — should be exempted from mandatory security screening procedures.
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