The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday conducted searches at 21 locations across Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to the Sabarimala gold loss case, according to officials familiar with the development.
Premises linked to the prime accused, Bengaluru-based businessman Unnikrishnan Potty, and former Travancore Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar were among those raided. The central agency recently registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after taking cognisance of findings in the ongoing state-level probe.
The politically sensitive case is also being investigated by a Special Investigation Team formed by the Kerala government under the supervision of the Kerala High Court. In December, the High Court permitted the Enforcement Directorate to carry out an independent investigation, rejecting objections raised by the SIT over sharing case records with the central agency.
So far, the SIT has registered two separate cases related to gold loss from the Sabarimala temple and has arrested 11 individuals. Among those arrested are the chief priest of the Lord Ayyappa temple, Kandararu Rajeevaru, Unnikrishnan Potty, and former TDB president Padmakumar.
ED officials said the probe is focused on tracing the proceeds of crime and examining allegations of official misconduct, administrative failures and a criminal conspiracy to illegally remove and misappropriate gold from the temple premises.
The investigation pertains to the reported loss of gold from gold-cladded copper plates used in the Dwarapalaka idols and the door frames of the Sreekovil, or sanctum sanctorum, of the Sabarimala shrine.
The Sabarimala gold loss case came to light after audits and inspections revealed discrepancies in the quantity of gold used in temple structures during renovation and conservation works at the Lord Ayyappa shrine in Kerala. The gold in question was part of the gold-plated copper sheets used for the Dwarapalaka idols and the Sreekovil door frames.
Concerns were raised that a significant quantity of gold had gone missing over several years, leading to allegations of misappropriation, misuse of authority and collusion between temple officials, contractors and intermediaries. Given Sabarimala&rsquo;s religious significance and the large volume of offerings received annually, the issue quickly gained political and public attention.
Following initial complaints, the Kerala government constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter. The SIT registered multiple cases and made arrests, but differences emerged over the scope of the investigation and the sharing of evidence with central agencies.
In December, the Kerala High Court allowed the Enforcement Directorate to independently investigate the money laundering angle, paving the way for the current multi-state searches. The ED is now examining whether proceeds from the alleged gold misappropriation were laundered through financial channels across states.

Money laundering probe spans three states over Sabarimala gold loss

ED Raids 21 Sites in Sabarimala Gold Case

Money laundering probe spans three states over Sabarimala gold loss

January 20, 2026 | 11:20 IST