Kandararu Rajeevaru has formally requested to resign from his position as the Tantri,or chief priest, of the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple,proposing his son,Kandararu Brahmadathan,as his successor. This decision comes amid ongoing legal troubles related to Sabarimala gold theft case, in which Rajeevaru has been implicated.
In a letter submitted to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), Rajeevaru cited health issues as the reason for his resignation. TDB officials confirmed they received his request. K. Jayakumar,the TDB president,stated, “He has submitted letter expressing his willingness to step down as chief priest, citing ill-health, and has suggested that his son Brahmadathan be appointed in his place. Any decision on the matter will be taken with the concurrence of the High Court.”
Rajeevaru has also asked to be excluded from the interview board responsible for selecting the Melshanthi, or head priest, for the temple. This request follows period during which he has not participated in temple rituals since his release from judicial custody. His son has been stepping in for him at various religious events .
The timing of Rajeevaru's resignation is notable, as he was expected to take on the Tantri duties during the current pilgrimage season. His arrest on January 9,2026,by a special investigation team (SIT) investigating the alleged misappropriation of gold from the temple has significantly impacted his role. The SIT has accused him of being involved in the removal and re-plating of gold-clad temple articles, allegedly in connection with prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty.
Rajeevaru spent approximately 40 days in judicial custody before being granted bail by the Kollam Vigilance Court on February 18. His decision to step down appears to follow a precedent set when Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru was appointed as chief priest after his father was disqualified. This historical context may influence how TDB and the High Court respond to Rajeevaru's request.
