Security outside the western gate of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple as the police carry out preliminary investigation after the gold rod went missing recently.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN

The Kerala Police on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) questioned Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple officials concerning the “lost and found” gold and cadmium alloy rod used for plating work inside the iconic place of worship. 

Nakul Rajendra Deshmukh, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, said the police have ruled out theft prima facie. However, they were investigating whether any mischief was involved. 

Mr. Deshmukh said the police were poised to question more temple staff, some of whom held important positions. He said establishment politics and rifts among some staff members appeared to have no bearing on the lost-and-found case. Mr. Deshmukh said the police security at the temple was robust, and there was no lapse.

Last week, the temple authorities reported missing the alloy rod used for soldering and welding at the expansively gilded temple. The report caused a public furore. Initial media reports suggested that the temple had lost a religious artefact. 

On Sunday, temple authorities recovered the rod from the temple precincts. It weighed 13 sovereigns and showed no signs of tampering.

The Fort police had initially registered a theft case. However, they later inferred that the rod might have inadvertently fallen to the ground when the maintenance workers returned the alloy to the temple’s strongroom. 

The police will likely alter the first information report when law enforcers conclude their probe.