Thiruvananthapuram:
The controversy over the priceless treasure in Kerala's Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple refuses to die down. Veteran Marxist leader and former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan has said that he will approach the Supreme Court against the custodians of the temple-- the Travancore Royal Family, for allegedly smuggling its wealth. The Marxist leader claims that he was prompted to do so after complaints from temple employees.
"I will move the Supreme Court. I hope the Court will order an inquiry into these allegations so that the real culprits are brought to book," Mr Achuthanandan said.
His move comes days after he directly accused Marthanda Varma, head of the Travancore Royal Family, of smuggling out gold from the shrine.
"Don't you know that Marthanda Varma goes to the temple every day? When he returns he carries a tiffin box. The general perception is that he brings the 'payasam'. But it is not that. Instead, it is jewels," Mr Achuthanandan had said.
The temple trust had denied this charge.
V K Harikumar, Executive Officer, Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple told NDTV, "Achuthanandan has based these allegations on complaints from an employee who was sacked for not following temple rules and customs"
The Supreme Court had recently ordered an audit of the temple treasure reportedly worth over a lakh crore rupees. The allegations of smuggling come close on the heels of the Travancore Royal family telling the court that opening the temple's secret vaults would invite the deity's anger.