Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Friday said he will submit a letter to the police team probing the Sabarimala gold loss case demanding an investigation into the links to a global racket involved in trafficking antiquities.
Speaking to reporters here, Mr. Chennithala said that there were indications of transactions involving a group reportedly led by an antiques dealer in the case, but no evidence had been obtained so far. He said the value of the gold plates stolen from Sabarimala could touch around ₹500 crore in the international black market for antiquities, though the worth is estimated at around ₹50 crore otherwise.
He said that the gold lost from Sabarimala is not a local conspiracy. He alleged that a larger conspiracy existed to smuggle valuable objects from temples in Kerala.
“It is a major transaction involving an international smuggling network. What we see now is only the tip of the iceberg. The probe must not stop here. All links should be exposed,” he said.
Mr. Chennithala also criticised the State government and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leadership over the case.
According to him, two top CPI(M) leaders have been arrested, and the court denied them bail. “Yet the Chief Minister has not spoken on the matter. Why has the CPI(M) not taken action? The government is protecting the accused,” he alleged.
Published – December 05, 2025 08:30 pm IST
