On Monday, various Hindu organisations led by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi held a protest outside the Secretariat. They demanded the gold theft investigation linked to the Sabarimala temple be handed to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Protesters also called for the State government to give up control of the Devaswom administration. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international president Alok Kumar inaugurated the protest. He accused the Devaswom Board, its presidents, the Devaswom Minister, and the State government of being involved in the crime. He said they helped steal temple wealth. Kumar said important temple customs were ignored when artefacts were removed from the temple. He noted that the case has inter-State implications, with suspects linked to smuggling networks outside Kerala. He argued the present Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe would not reveal these facts. Kumar demanded an immediate CBI inquiry if the State truly wants truth. He said, "Sabarimala is not just a temple belonging to Kerala, but a national spiritual heritage of India." Kumar also criticised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for calling the scam a "minor" one. He questioned why the State still controls Hindu temples, highlighting that the government took over temple management in 1811 promising better administration. Hindu Aikya Vedi (HAV) State patron K.P. Sasikala presided over the protest meeting. Other speakers included VHP central joint secretary K. Sthanumalayan, HAV State president R.V. Babu, and Sabarimala Karma Samithi general convener S.J.R. Kumar.