Sabarimala Gold Loss Case: ED Calls Actor Jayaram for Questioning

The Central agency is also in the process of summoning Unnikrishnan Potty, the alleged prime accused in the case. Potty was recently released on bail by a court in Kollam. The case is also being investigated by the Kerala Police Special Investigation Team.

Officials said Jayaram is expected to appear before the ED in the coming days. The Kerala Police SIT had earlier questioned the actor in Chennai. His questioning was reportedly based on a video showing Jayaram and Potty performing a puja together.

Jayaram had denied any wrongdoing and said he had no links with the company that carried out the replating of gold-clad artefacts of the temple or with the sponsors of the work.

Potty was released from the Thiruvananthapuram sub-jail on Thursday after being granted bail in a second case related to the alleged gold loss. Investigators said he had approached the Travancore Devaswom Board seeking permission for replating gold-clad artefacts, which was approved in 2019. The artefacts were later taken to a Chennai-based firm for the replating work.

The Kerala Police SIT, which is the primary investigating agency, has alleged that gold was diverted from the artefacts during the replating process.

Earlier this week, the ED questioned former TDB administrative officer Murari Babu and S Sreekumar in the case. Sreekumar was again questioned on Friday. The agency had conducted searches in connection with the probe last month.

In a statement issued on January 21, the ED said it had frozen eight immovable properties worth ₹1.3 crore belonging to Potty and seized a 100-gram gold bar from the premises of Smart Creations, a Chennai-based entity. A case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was registered on January 9 based on two FIRs filed by the Kerala Police.

The probe relates to alleged irregularities, including official misconduct, administrative lapses and criminal conspiracy, in connection with misappropriation of gold from artefacts at the Sabarimala Temple.

According to the ED, several sacred gold-clad artefacts, including components of the Dwarapalaka idols, pedestals and panels of the sanctum sanctorum door frame, were misrepresented in official records as “copper plates” and removed from the temple premises between 2019 and 2025.

The agency said the artefacts were transported to private facilities in Chennai and Karnataka, including Smart Creations and Roddam Jewellers, where gold was extracted through chemical processes under the guise of repair and replating work.

“The extracted gold and related assets constitute proceeds of crime, which were retained, transferred and concealed by the accused persons,” the ED said, adding that the investigation had also indicated other financial irregularities linked to temple offerings and rituals.