Kochi, Oct 3 (UNI) The controversy surrounding the gold-plating of sacred artefacts at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple took a serious turn, with the Kerala High Court ordering a judicial probe into alleged discrepancies and missing valuables under the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).
What began in 2019 as a restoration project of the temple’s Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and their pedestals has now snowballed into a major scandal, raising concerns over accountability and transparency in the handling of devotees’ offerings.
According to official records, gold-clad copper plates weighing 42.8 kg were handed over to Chennai-based firm Smart Creations for refurbishment. However, when the artefacts were returned, the weight stood at 38.258 kg, indicating a shortfall of more than four kilograms.
In a key twist, a gold-plated pedestal (peedam), reported missing for years, was recently recovered from the house of a relative of Unnikrishnan Potti, the main sponsor of the gold-plating work. Following the High Court’s intervention, the artefact was restored to Sabarimala.
Expressing displeasure over lapses in TDB records, the High Court directed the Vigilance Wing of the Board to probe possible substitution or mishandling of the valuables.
Retired judge Justice K. T. Sankaran has been appointed to conduct a comprehensive inventory audit of all gold, silver, and antiquities at the shrine.
The court also ordered the seizure of all relevant documents from the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner’s office and instructed the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of the TDB to submit a detailed report within three weeks, clarifying whether duplicate idols or pedestals exist in the strong room.
The bench observed that temple registers were poorly maintained, with crucial details such as dates, weight, valuation, and custodial movement of artefacts either missing or improperly recorded. The matter will be reviewed again on October 27.
The development has triggered sharp political reactions. Opposition Leader V. D. Satheesan alleged large-scale fraud and theft, accusing the state government and Devaswom Board of attempting to cover up misappropriation.
“This is not a mere lapse but a deliberate bid to cheat devotees,” he charged, demanding criminal proceedings against those responsible.
Devaswom Minister V. N. Vasavan dismissed the allegations, stating that the recovery of the missing pedestal showed there was no conspiracy to loot temple assets.
“Certain forces are trying to malign the temple administration and create mistrust among devotees. The truth will emerge through judicial scrutiny,” he maintained.
TDB President P. S. Prasanth admitted lapses in documentation but denied fraud, stressing that over 467 kg of temple gold was securely deposited with the Reserve Bank of India. He assured that corrective measures would be taken in record-keeping.
The scandal has reignited the debate over temple management in Kerala, with devotees and rights groups demanding stricter oversight of the state’s 1,200 temples under the TDB.
Since Sabarimala accounts for a major share of temple revenues, the High Court-monitored inquiry is expected to have far-reaching implications for the credibility of temple administration in the state.
