Thiruvananthapuram: Police on Monday visited Kowdiar Palace and inspected the premises as part of the investigation into the alleged theft of jewellery worth over Rs 2 crore from Travancore royal family’s residence.A team from Peroorkada police station examined the area where the ornaments were reportedly kept and recorded statements of palace employees and others associated with the premises. A senior police officer said a special team will also visit the palace as part of the probe and conduct a detailed inquiry. Police are currently preparing a list of people who visited the palace in recent months, including foreign nationals, to examine possible security lapses.The ornaments were kept in an iron cupboard in the complainant’s bedroom within the palace premises and were suspected to have been stolen between Oct and Nov 2025. The family initially believed the jewellery had been misplaced inside the palace and approached police only after it couldn’t be traced.The missing jewellery includes several traditional gold ornaments that had been preserved in the royal household for decades. Many of the missing ornaments had significant historical and cultural value and reflected traditional Travancore craftsmanship and temple-inspired designs that are rarely made today. Police suspect the theft might have been carried out by someone familiar with the palace premises, as it would be difficult for outsiders to reach the bedroom and locate the cupboard where the jewellery was kept.Police are also examining whether outsiders had gained access to the palace in recent months. Officials said several videos showing the interiors of the palace had recently surfaced on social media, suggesting that outsiders might have entered the premises. Police are probing these angles as part of the ongoing investigation.
