Ettumanoor: The Travancore Devaswom Board has issued notices to 6 officials seeking an explanation on a complaint related to irregularities related to the gold-covered Rudraksha in the Thiruvabharanam (the sacred ornament) of the Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple. It is learned that the Devaswom Board has sought an explanation from officials for not informing them about the missing ornament.

The notices have been sent against Thiruvabharana Commissioner Ajith Kumar, administrative officers of the temple, Vaikom Devaswom Deputy Commissioner and Ettumanoor Devaswom Assistant Commissioner. The Devaswom Board will take disciplinary action against the officials after hearing their explanation. 

However, the TDB's investigation found that only 2.5 grams of gold were lost. But the board observed serious lapses on the part of the officials in reporting the incident to the Devaswom Board. 

Earlier, the former priest had given a statement to the Kottayam DYSP J Santhosh Kumar revealing that when he got the gold chain, the 72 Rudraksha were there.

While receiving, the chain was not large enough to be worn on the idol. So the chain was kept in the box itself and that is why the chain does not look old, said the former priest.

According to the report of the Devaswom Vigilance, a case was registered against the former priest. The statements of the Devaswom officer in charge and the Devaswom goldsmith were also recorded on July 5, 2021, when the gold chain and other ornaments were handed over to the new priest. A parallel police investigation is also underway.