107 grams of gold disappear from Kerala's Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, raising security concerns

Dubai: In a shocking turn of events, approximately 107 grams of gold has gone missing from the renowned Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, considered one of the richest temples in the world. This incident has raised concerns over the security of valuable assets, particularly as the gold was designated for gold plating work on the temple's sanctum sanctorum door and was stored as a rod.

According to multiple media sources,the disappearance was uncovered on Saturday morning when maintenance work resumed at the temple, which has been under renovation since May 7.

Upon discovery of the theft, temple officials promptly notified the city's Fort Police Station, leading to an immediate investigation. Security personnel were deployed outside the temple in Thiruvananthapuram as police began a preliminary inquiry into the incident.

The investigation is currently focused on the potential mishandling of the gold during its transport in a cloth bag to the Mandapam, where restoration activities are ongoing.

Located in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is regarded as potentially the world's wealthiest temple.

Reports from 2022 reveal that the temple incurs a monthly expenditure of around 10 million Rupees. The temple gained global attention in 2011 when explorations of its vaults unveiled a staggering collection of treasures, including jewels and precious metals, estimated to be worth around 1 trillion rupees, or $22 billion. This has made the temple a key attraction for tourists.

Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage as part of their investigation to help locate the missing gold and ensure the security of the temple’s wealth.