Background
The controversy centres on missing gold-plated sheets and adornments from the sacred sanctum of Sabarimala temple during the door-frame re-plating and dwarapalaka idol refurbishment in 2019.
N Vasu, who served as TDB Commissioner and later as its President, was in charge at the time when the gold plating project was undertaken and reportedly gave instructions for the gold-plated sheets to be marked as copper.
The Arrest
On 11 November 2025, N Vasu was formally arrested by the SIT, making his the most high-profile arrest so far in the case. The arrest follows detailed investigations, witness statements, email trails and document reviews showing alleged lapses and complicity at senior levels.
Why This Matters
The temple in question, Sabarimala, is one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in India and the trust places on its assets and administration is enormous.
The gold plating of temple door-frames and idols involves both sacred duty and large financial and material value; any misappropriation has major ethical, legal and social implications.
The arrest of a senior former board-head signals a shift in the investigation from fringe officials to the top levels of the administration — which may have wide-ranging political and institutional implications for the Devaswom Board and state governance.
What’s Next
The SIT is expected to question further senior officials, trace the missing gold sheets, evaluate the role of sponsors and board transactions, and potentially recover the material.
The legal process will involve detailed forensic accounting of temple assets, prosecution of accused persons, and possibly political fallout depending on findings.
Public interest and media scrutiny are high, and the case may set precedents for governance of major temples and sacred trusts in India.
Trending / Indexing Note
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FAQ
Q1. Who is N Vasu?
A1. N Vasu is a senior administrator who served twice as Commissioner of the Travancore Devaswom Board and later became its President. He was involved in managing the administration of the Sabarimala temple when the gold-plating project was undertaken.
Q2. What exactly is the missing gold case about?
A2. The case concerns the alleged disappearance or mis-appropriation of gold-plated sheets, door-frame panels and idol coverings installed in the Sabarimala temple sanctum in 2019, which are now believed to have been under-reported or substituted with copper, and hence missing from the temple assets.
Q3. Why was N Vasu arrested now?
A3. After a series of interrogations, document trails, email records (notably one from a sponsor suggesting gold was available for a wedding) and testimony pointing to senior-level lapses, the SIT found sufficient cause to arrest N Vasu as the investigation stepped into senior management.
Q4. What are the implications for the Travancore Devaswom Board?
A4. The arrest casts a spotlight on the governance of temple assets, accountability of the Board, and may trigger institutional reforms, reviews of past projects, audits of asset-management practices, and possibly public or political pressure for greater transparency.
Q5. Will the missing gold be recovered?
A5. The recovery remains speculative. The SIT is investigating asset trails, sponsorship records and structural audits. While recovery is a target, tracing gold (or its value) is complex and will take time. The arrest of senior officials increases the likelihood of deeper leads, but no guarantee yet.
Q6. How is this affecting public and political sentiment in Kerala?
A6. The case has stirred significant public interest and political debate in Kerala: Opposition parties are demanding resignations, central probe, dissolution of the Board’s current administration. The arrest of a senior official has amplified the expectations of accountability.
Published on : 11TH November
Published by : SARANYA
Source Credit ; Deepthi Rao
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