Fresh revelations from the SIT investigation into the Sabarimala gold theft have cast a long shadow over the temple’s Tantri, challenging the sanctity of its rituals. The report, brimming with empirical data from digital forensics and custodial interrogations, alleges critical protocol breaches under the priest’s watch.
Key evidence includes mismatched inventory logs during the Utsava season and the Tantri’s authorization of external contractors for ‘maintenance’—a move that bypassed standard vetting. ‘The chain of custody was deliberately weakened,’ the report states bluntly, implicating high-level oversight failures.
The controversy has polarized Kerala society, pitting traditionalists against reformists. Ayyappa devotees, many from neighboring states, are voicing concerns over the politicization of their faith. Temple authorities have responded by forming an internal committee, but skeptics demand an independent audit.
As legal proceedings advance, this case highlights the urgent need for tech-integrated security in religious institutions. The Sabarimala saga, once a symbol of unity, now tests the resilience of faith amid allegations of greed and betrayal.