Intelligence report flags serious security lapses and missing valuables
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – An intelligence report highlighting major irregularities at the renowned Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple has come to light. The report points to the disappearance of valuable items, missing gold offerings, security breaches, and the improper handling of devotee donations. Based on inputs from the Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence), the Director General of Police has written to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) expressing grave concerns over the management and security of the temple’s priceless assets.
श्री पद्मनाभस्वामी मंदिर में सोने और हीरे के आभूषण गायब, गृह सचिव को दी गई रिपोर्ट#Kerala #Thiruvananthapuram #SriPadmanabhaswamyTemple
रिपोर्ट : @NewsRaghavhttps://t.co/yCOkF4KCxy
— India TV (@indiatvnews) May 27, 2026
Points raised in the report
1. Gold offerings missing
Gold biscuits and coins weighing 78 grams, donated by devotees for temple maintenance over the past few months, are missing. A multi-layered gold lamp, which had previously been removed for maintenance, is no longer within the temple premises.
2. Deity ornaments missing
An original gold lamp has been replaced with a silver one, with no official records of this substitution. Furthermore, a traditional ornament known as ‘Vaira Nama’, usually kept inside the ‘garbhagruha’ (sanctum sanctorum), was removed under the pretext of repair but has not been returned even after six months.
3. Security checks bypassed
Several temple employees, security personnel, and individuals linked to the Travancore royal family have been bypassing mandatory security checks at the Chembakathummoodu entrance. The report identifies specific individuals who frequently entered and exited the temple without screening.
4. Recommendation to store valuables in the ‘strong room’:
Following the findings of the investigation, officials have suggested several measures to strengthen temple security and safeguard valuables. These include shifting all gold, silver, and other valuables currently kept outside the vaults into the ‘strong room’ (a highly secure chamber built to safeguard valuables or important documents). It also stated that proper documentation must be maintained for all donations received from devotees, and that they must be kept in a secure location.
5. Strict police oversight approved
There must be strict police oversight over all lockers and storage areas. A zero-tolerance policy should be adopted towards any breach of security rules. Every single person, regardless of their rank or status, must undergo a mandatory security check before entering the temple premises.
6. Temple management structure
The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is not administered by the Kerala Government’s Devaswom Board. Instead, it is managed by an executive committee constituted by the Supreme Court of India, which oversees its day-to-day administrative affairs. The District Judge of Thiruvananthapuram serves as the executive head of this committee. The committee includes representatives from the Central Government, as well as BJP leader Karamana Jayan. Advocate Velayudhan represents the Kerala Government on this committee. Another member is Shri Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, the head of the Travancore royal family. Aditya Varma is also part of this committee as a nominee of the royal family heads. The chief priests of the temple are also included in this executive committee.
