Culprits Will Be Jailed’: PM Modi Promises Action on Sabarimala Gold Case Ahead of Kerala Polls

Thiruvananthapuram | 23 January 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made a strong assurance to the people of Kerala amid the ongoing controversy over alleged gold theft at the Sabarimala temple. Addressing a public gathering in Thiruvananthapuram, the Prime Minister said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power in the state after the upcoming assembly elections, the Sabarimala gold loss will be thoroughly examined and those responsible will be sent to jail. “This is Modi’s guarantee,” he said. PM Modi made these remarks while launching several development projects in the state and flagging off new train services. Referring to the religious importance of Sabarimala, he said, “The entire country, all of us, have unwavering faith in Lord Ayyappa.” He accused the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of damaging the traditions of the temple and said reports of gold theft were deeply disturbing. “Reports of gold being stolen from the temple, from right next to the Lord… the moment a BJP government is formed here, a thorough investigation into these allegations will take place, and the culprits will have their place in jail,” he said, as quoted by news agency. The Prime Minister’s statement comes at a time when the alleged Sabarimala gold theft has turned into a major political issue in Kerala. The case involves claims of misappropriation of gold from the sanctum door frames and the plates covering the dwarapalaka, or guardian idols, of the temple. The matter is currently being probed by a special investigation team (SIT) of the Kerala Police, following directions from the state High Court. Using the occasion to pitch for the BJP ahead of the Kerala assembly elections scheduled later this year, PM Modi also launched a sharp attack on both the LDF and the United Democratic Front (UDF). “The upcoming elections will be the ones to change the condition and direction of Kerala,” he said. He added that the state has so far seen only two sides LDF and UDF and claimed that both have harmed Kerala one after the other. Presenting the BJP-led NDA as an alternative, he said it stands for development and good governance. Further criticising the existing political fronts, the Prime Minister said, “People of LDF and UDF have pushed Kerala into corruption, misgovernance and dangerous politics of appeasement.” He urged voters to support the BJP-NDA, saying it would work towards a better and more secure future for the state. ‘This Is Modi’s Guarantee’: PM Modi Assures Strict Action in Sabarimala Gold Theft Case Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday gave a strong assurance to the people of Kerala amid the controversy surrounding the alleged gold theft at the Sabarimala temple. Speaking in Thiruvananthapuram, he said that if the BJP comes to power in the state after the upcoming assembly elections, the Sabarimala gold loss will be properly investigated and those responsible will be punished. “This is Modi’s guarantee,” the Prime Minister said. PM Modi made these remarks while inaugurating several development projects and flagging off new train services. Highlighting the spiritual importance of the temple, he said, “The entire country, all of us, have unwavering faith in Lord Ayyappa.” He accused the LDF government of harming Sabarimala’s traditions and added that reports of gold being stolen from the temple were shocking. He assured that once a BJP government is formed, “a thorough investigation into these allegations will take place, and the culprits will have their place in jail.” The issue has triggered a major political debate in Kerala. The case involves alleged misuse of gold from the sanctum door frames and the plates covering the dwarapalaka idols. Following orders from the Kerala High Court, a special investigation team of the state police is currently probing the matter, while pressure continues to mount on the state government. Addressing the upcoming Kerala assembly elections, PM Modi also targeted both the LDF and the UDF. He said, “The upcoming elections will be the ones to change the condition and direction of Kerala,” adding that both fronts have failed the state. Presenting the BJP-led NDA as a new option, he said it stands for development and good governance, while accusing the LDF and UDF of pushing Kerala into “corruption, misgovernance and dangerous politics of appeasement.”