Kerala HC orders probe into weight shortage in gold-plated panels at Sabarimala; sponsor claims pedestal missing too

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has ordered a probe into discrepancies in the Sabarimala temple’s gold plating project after finding that plates sent for work in 2019 returned with four kg less gold than recorded.

The court noted that 42 kg of plates were originally taken for the gold plating, but only 38 kg were returned. Referring to official mahazar records, the bench pointed out that the shortage was even recorded during the one-and-a-half months the plates were kept in custody in 2019.

“When the plates were brought back and reinstalled at the Sannidhanam, why was the weight not checked again? If it were petrol, one could expect a reduction. But isn’t this gold?” the bench remarked, calling the issue “strange and worrying.”

Probe and directions to Devaswom Board

The High Court directed the Devaswom Vigilance to investigate and submit a report within three weeks. It instructed the Travancore Devaswom Board to cooperate fully and ordered verification of whether the pedestals of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) sculptures and spare structures are safely secured in the strong room.

“The sanctity and trust associated with temple management cannot be compromised. Transparency and accountability are paramount,” the court observed.

Sponsor raises claim of missing pedestal

Meanwhile, sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty has claimed that a gold pedestal made for the idols is now unaccounted for. “I do not know where it is now. Three soverigns of gold were used for this,” he said.

Potty explained that in 2019, under his sponsorship, copper plates were gold-plated at Smart Creations, Chennai. “The pedestal was also constructed there. Other metals were included. Due to Covid restrictions, only a few devotees were allowed at Sannidhanam and it’s through them the pedestal reached Sannidhanam,” he added.

He further noted that the pedestal could not be fixed due to size differences. “It was expected the pedestal would be included when the plates were brought for repairs, but it was not,” he said.

Background of the project

The Sabarimala gold plating project, intended to preserve and embellish the sanctum, has earlier faced scrutiny over its cost and implementation.

Located in Pathanamthitta district, the Sabarimala temple sits at 3,000 feet in the Western Ghats and is one of India’s most revered pilgrimage centres. Dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, it attracts millions of devotees every year, who follow a 41-day penance before making the barefoot climb from the banks of the Pampa River.

With IANS inputs