A cadmium-mixed gold rod weighing approximately 13 sovereigns, reported missing from the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, was recovered on Sunday evening following a two-day search operation by police and temple officials.
The gold, used in the renovation of the sanctum sanctorum (sreekovil), was discovered buried under soil near the temple’s northern entrance—close to the area where renovation work is ongoing.
🔍 Timeline of Events:
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May 7 (Wednesday): Gold items, including the 13-sovereign rod, were taken out from the strongroom for affixing new gold plating on the temple’s main sanctum door.
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May 8–9: Renovation work paused temporarily.
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May 10 (Saturday): During a routine inspection, temple staff noticed the rod was missing when the locker was opened. A police complaint was lodged with Fort Police.
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May 11 (Sunday): Search teams, including the bomb squad and metal detector units, located the gold rod buried in soil near the renovation site around 5 PM.
What Officials Said:
“There is no indication of theft. The rod was found within the premises, near the strongroom,” said DCP Nakul Rajendra Deshmukh, confirming the gold was found roughly 40 metres from where it was last seen.
While CCTV footage captured the rod being transported in a cloth bag, there is no video confirming when or where it was lost. Police suspect the rod may have slipped or been misplaced during transfer between the renovation site and the strongroom.
An investigation is ongoing to determine whether the rod accidentally fell or was abandoned, but no foul play is currently suspected.
The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of India’s wealthiest and most revered temples. Any incident involving its treasure vaults is treated with the highest scrutiny. This recovery brings relief to temple authorities, devotees, and the public amid ongoing renovation work on the historic shrine.
