Opposition members of the legislative assembly in Kerala stormed the well of the house in protest on Monday, targeting the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government over the Sabarimala gold theft case. The unrest followed the release of accused Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, the former chief priest of the Sabarimala temple, who walked out of Poojappura Central Prison after securing bail from the Kollam Vigilance Court.

Rajeevaru was released after 41 days in judicial remand. The court granted him bail in cases involving the alleged misappropriation of gold from the temple’s Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) sculptures and the Kattilappaali (door frame). The accused had been arrested on January 9 by the Crime Branch and questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), according to Kerala police.

The arrest came after multiple charges, including criminal breach of trust, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, were filed against him. According to the arrest notice issued under Section 48 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the case pertains to alleged irregularities in the removal and handling of gold-plated copper panels and ornamental structures fixed on the sanctum sanctorum door of the Sabarimala temple.

The Sabarimala gold theft case concerns allegations of the misappropriation of approximately 4.54 kilograms of gold from sacred temple artefacts, including the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frames and Dwarapalaka idols. The theft allegedly occurred in 2019 under the pretext of refinishing and re-gold-plating temple structures.

The controversy traces its origins to a 1998 donation by industrialist Vijay Mallya, who donated 30.3 kilograms of gold and 1,900 kilograms of copper for gold plating and cladding at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. Subsequent inspections and court-monitored inquiries revealed discrepancies between the donated gold and the quantity allegedly used.