‘Nearly 78 grams of gold missing’, ‘gold lamp replaced with silver’: Theft rocks Kerala's Padmanabhaswamy temple
Kerala’s Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is facing allegations of gold theft and security lapses, with nearly 78 grams of gold missing and a gold lamp replaced with silver, according to a DGP report. The report also highlights bypassed security checks by temple employees and associates of Sri Aditya Varma, recommending stricter protocols and centralized storage of valuables.
A report by Kerala’s Director General of Police (DGP), Ravada A Chandrasekhar, has exposed significant security failures at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Nearly 78 grams of gold bars and coins offered by devotees have gone missing over recent months, while a multi-tiered gold lamp was replaced with a silver version without official records. The report also reveals that the sacred *Vaira Nama* artifact, removed for repairs six months ago, remains unreplaced. Security lapses include temple employees, security personnel, and associates of Sri Aditya Varma bypassing mandatory screening at the entrance, with some frequently visiting the Kowdiar Palace. The DGP recommended moving all gold and silver valuables outside vaults to a centralized strong room, documenting all devotee offerings, and enforcing strict screening for all entrants. The temple, one of the wealthiest in the world with assets valued at ₹1.2 lakh crore, faces scrutiny over mismanagement and unaccounted losses. The report follows earlier allegations of theft at Kerala’s Sabarimala Temple, raising concerns about oversight in India’s most revered shrines. Authorities have been urged to implement immediate reforms to prevent further discrepancies.
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