Sabarimala gold row: Court receives quantification report; Devaswom document disputes tantri’s claim
Pathanamthitta: In a major development in the Sabarimala gold theft probe, a report on the scientific analysis of the gold on copper claddings covering various artefacts and door frames at the Lord Ayyappa temple has been submitted to a vigilance court here, sources said on Friday. The analysis was conducted by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and filed in a sealed envelope.
The report will now be handed over to the High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) for further inquiry, the sources added. The SIT had requested the scientific analysis to compare the nature of the gold on the copper cladding before and after restoration in 2019 by the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti.
High Court approval enables detailed gold assessment
The Kerala High Court had authorised the SIT’s request for a scientific examination of the gold on the copper cladding, including tests to determine purity, quantity, and possible replacement. Samples were collected from dwarapalaka sculptures and wooden panels, which will help clarify whether the gold-plated layer was altered or replaced during the 2019 restoration.
Potential impact on investigation
The findings could reveal any discrepancies in the gold plating, including whether the gold layer was removed, replaced with copper, or otherwise tampered with. The report is expected to play a crucial role in the ongoing investigation into the Sabarimala gold controversy.
Vajivahanam possession and Devaswom Board clarification
Meanwhile, media reports highlighted a 2012 Travancore Devaswom Board document addressing the possession of the gold-plated Vajivahanam — the horse-shaped idol traditionally placed atop the Sabarimala temple flagpole, symbolising Lord Ayyappa’s warrior aspect. The document clarified that such objects cannot be removed by the tantri (chief priest) and remain public property under the Devaswom Board’s custody.
The 2012 order emphasises that tantris have no possession rights over ritual objects once ceremonial duties are completed. It notes that past practices of tantris taking such objects do not justify continuation, and any damage, replacement, or alteration does not alter the items’ status as Devaswom property.
2017 Vajivahanam dispute
In 2017, when the panchaloha flagstaff at Sabarimala was replaced, the tantri, Kandararu Rajeevaru, removed the Vajivahanam, claiming it as his personal possession.
Weighing nearly 11 kg, the artefact is made of panchaloha and gold-plated, and dates back several decades.
Although Rajeevaru subsequently offered to return the Vajivahanam, the Board expressed doubts over whether it was the original 2017 object. As a result, it remained at his Chengannur residence.
Later, the SIT during gold theft probe recovered the Vajivahanam from Rajeevaru’s residence and produced it before the Kollam Vigilance Court. SIT took custody of the Vajivahanam after verification by goldsmiths. Its presentation in court precedes expected legal arguments on the tantri’s authority and rights over temple property. Rajeevaru continues to claim a right to the artefact, but the 2012 Board document casts doubt on the legal validity of his claim.
Similar incidents underscore Board’s stance
A similar dispute occurred in 2022 at Sree Vallabha Temple, Thiruvalla, after lightning damaged the flagstaff. The local tantri claimed rights over the Garuda Vahanam, but the Devaswom Board rejected the claim, storing the artefact in a strongroom. The Board reiterated that such objects remain public property and tantris cannot remove or retain temple artefacts, regardless of earlier customs.