Sabarimala Gold Probe, Ayodhya Donation Case Raise Questions on Temple Transparency

New Delhi: India’s two of the most prominent Hindu shrines — Sabarimala Temple in Kerala and Ram Mandir in Uttar Pradesh — are at the centre of separate investigations into alleged financial irregularities involving temple assets and devotee donations.

Although unrelated, both cases have triggered nationwide debate over accountability, governance and transparency in institutions entrusted with offerings worth hundreds of crores.

Sabarimala gold misappropriation case

The Sabarimala temple, administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board, has been under judicial scrutiny over allegations that gold used for temple ornamentation was siphoned off during repair work.

According to court proceedings, around 30.291 kg of gold donated in the late 1990s by Vijay Mallya was used to clad temple structures, including the Dwarapalaka idols and parts of the sanctum.

In 2019, several gold-clad components were reportedly sent for replating after being described in records as copper plates. Investigators later found an alleged discrepancy of nearly 4.54 kg in the returned material. The Kerala High Court took suo motu cognisance of the matter in September 2025 after receiving a report from its Special Commissioner, describing the alleged incident as a serious breach of trust. It later ordered a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The probe has since expanded to include alleged criminal conspiracy, lapses in inventory management and suspected money laundering. Investigators have questioned former temple functionaries and Travancore Devaswom Board officials, while the Enforcement Directorate has conducted searches across multiple states. Some arrests have been made, partial gold recoveries reported and properties attached as investigations continue.

The High Court has also criticised deficiencies in record-keeping and chain-of-custody procedures for valuable temple assets. Opposition parties have demanded accountability from the Kerala government and temple administration.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation embezzlement allegations

A separate controversy has emerged at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, managed by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

The temple receives substantial donations in the form of cash, gold, silver and jewellery through dozens of donation boxes, attracting millions of devotees annually.

Allegations surfaced publicly in June 2026 after a former accounts supervisor reportedly claimed that more than ₹7 crore in offerings had been misappropriated. The allegations were amplified by opposition leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, who demanded an independent investigation and greater transparency.

According to investigators, thefts allegedly occurred during the sorting and counting of offerings, with CCTV footage reportedly showing some staff concealing cash and valuables. Uttar Pradesh Police registered an embezzlement case following an interim SIT report, and multiple staff members involved in handling donations were arrested.

The controversy also prompted renewed demands for comprehensive financial audits, judicial oversight and a possible probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The trust has faced criticism from some quarters over allegations that accountability has largely focused on junior employees, while supporters of the trust maintain that the investigation should be allowed to proceed before conclusions are drawn.

Why transparency has become a national issue

The two cases have highlighted structural differences in how India’s major religious institutions are governed.

The Travancore Devaswom Board is a statutory body established under state legislation and functions under a legal framework that includes government oversight and internal audits. The Sabarimala investigation, however, has exposed alleged weaknesses in inventory management and documentation of precious temple assets.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust operates as an autonomous religious trust. While subject to applicable tax and audit laws, it is not required to provide the same level of detailed public financial disclosure expected from listed companies or many government institutions.

Experts have long argued that temples handling significant public donations should adopt stronger financial controls, including independent external audits, digital inventory systems for gold and jewellery, secure CCTV monitoring, electronic tracking of donation boxes and periodic publication of audited financial summaries.

Historical context

Cases involving temple thefts and financial irregularities predate the current controversies.

Government data and previous investigations have documented hundreds of idol thefts, particularly in Tamil Nadu, where organised smuggling networks targeted centuries-old temple idols over several decades. Thousands of antiquities were trafficked overseas before stronger recovery efforts began in recent years. Cases of financial mismanagement in temples administered by various state bodies have also surfaced periodically across different governments.

These historical incidents suggest that challenges involving temple asset protection and financial oversight have existed for decades and are not confined to any single administration or region.

Investigations continue

Both the Sabarimala and Ayodhya cases remain under investigation, and no court has delivered a final verdict establishing criminal liability. The inquiries are expected to determine whether systemic failures, criminal misconduct or both contributed to the alleged irregularities.

The twin controversies have renewed calls for reforms aimed at safeguarding religious assets while preserving the autonomy of faith institutions. Legal experts and devotees alike say improved transparency, stronger accounting systems and regular independent audits could help reinforce public confidence in institutions that manage offerings made in faith.