The gold-plated claddings were said to have been taken to the actor’s home afterward.
Thiruvananthapuram: A video has surfaced showing actor Jayaram attending a ceremony in Chennai organised by Unnikrishnan Potty, shedding new light on the Sabarimala gold-plating controversy.
The video footage, dating back to 2019, shows a gold-plated cladding of the Dwarapalaka (guardian) idols, said to resemble the one installed at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, being showcased. The footage further captures the actor attending the pooja ceremony with Potty.
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The video has drawn attention amid allegations that Potti showcased the gold-plated panels at several locations, generating revenue from these exhibitions before they were returned to Sabarimala.
Jayaram told the media that he participated in the ceremony at Potty’s invitation. Singer Veeramani and several other prominent figures were also present. The gold-plated claddings were said to have been taken to the actor’s home afterwards.
The construction reportedly took place between April and July 2019, with Potty assuring the donor that the plates would eventually be installed at Sabarimala. The golden finish was applied in Chennai, accompanied by elaborate rituals before the planned installation at the temple.
The controversy came to light following "procedural lapses" during the removal of the existing gold plating from the idols for transport to Chennai. A division bench of the Kerala High Court noted that the gold-plated copper cover had lost 4.541 kilograms during the 2019 process overseen by Potty.
The situation grew more suspicious when a gold-plated pedestal, previously reported missing by Potty, was recovered by the Devaswom vigilance team from his sister’s residence. Reports suggest a staff member of Potti had possession of the item until the scandal was exposed.
Published: 03 Oct 2025, 10:58 am IST
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