KOCHI: In a major crackdown linked to large-scale misappropriation of temple assets at Sabarimala, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted simultaneous raids at 21 locations across Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu on Tuesday as part of its probe into the money laundering angle. The searches were connected to the allegations of illegal removal and processing of gold and other temple valuables.
An ED officer said the agency would proceed with the provisional attachment of properties belonging to the accused arrested in the case. The bank accounts of the accused would be frozen after the completion of searches.
In Kerala, the raids were conducted at the devaswom offices at Sannidhanam, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, and the houses of Unnikrishnan Potti (Thiruvananthapuram), former TDB president A Padmakumar (Aranmula), former devaswom board administrative officer Murari Babu (Changanassery), and former TDB chairman and commissioner N Vasu (Thiruvananthapuram).
According to ED, documents, and digital records related to the loss of gold at Sabarimala and associated financial transactions were seized during the raids. Information regarding the accused persons’ links, financial dealings has been collected.
ED raids office of Smart Creations in Chennai, owner and jeweller’s house
Explaining the legal basis for the action, the officer said: “Section 5 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) provides for provisional attachment of properties involved in money laundering. It empowers the ED director or authorised officers to attach assets if there is reason to believe that such properties may be concealed, transferred, or otherwise dealt with to frustrate confiscation.”
The officer said if the proceeds of crime are not available, the value of the proceeds of crime can be attached from other assets, including ancestral properties of the accused.
The officer added that a summons will be issued to the accused named in the FIRs registered by the Kerala Police.
Raids were also conducted at the office of Smart Creations in Chennai, where the gold plating was refurbished, the residence of its owner Pankaj Bhandari, and the house of jeweller Govardhan, a native of Bellary in Karnataka.
The ED launched the probe based on multiple FIRs registered by the Kerala crime branch, which point to a deep-rooted criminal conspiracy involving officials of the TDB, private individuals, intermediaries, and jewellers.
An Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) was registered on January 9 after the agency obtained the required court approval.
According to the ED, preliminary investigations revealed that gold-clad sacred artefacts were deliberately misrepresented as “copper plates” in official records and unlawfully removed from the Sabarimala temple premises between 2019 and 2025.
The gold was allegedly extracted through chemical processes at private facilities in Chennai and Karnataka, generating proceeds of crime that were subsequently retained, transferred, and concealed.
“The searches were aimed at tracing the proceeds of crime, identifying beneficiaries, seizing incriminating documents and digital evidence, and ascertaining the full extent of money laundering involved,” the ED officer said.
The agency further stated that its investigation has also uncovered indications of additional financial irregularities and scams at Sabarimala, including misappropriation related to temple offerings and rituals. These aspects are also being examined under the provisions of the PMLA.
The raids at Sabarimala were carried out after sidelining devaswom officials and with the assistance of technical experts and gold fabrication specialists.