Sabarimala Sponsor Wanted To Use Gold For A Wedding: Exclusive Details

Sabarimala Ayyappan temple's sponsor wanted to use the remaining gold after plating to solemise a wedding - for which he had sought permission, court findings revealed amid the alleged theft of gold plates used in the temple's sanctum sanctorum. According to the details accessed by NDTV, the sponsor, Unnikrishnan Potty, had written a letter to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on December 9, 2019.

"I would like to inform you that I have some gold balance in my hand after finishing the gold work of the Sabarimala sanctum sanctorum main door and the dwarapalakar's. I would like to use it for a girl's marriage who needs support and genuine, in coordination with TBD. Please give your valuable opinion in this regard," the letter said.

The Devaswom Secretary, on December 17, 2019, based on the letter, had sought clarity on what could be done with the excess gold.

Potty, who is at the center of the controversy, had secured the TDB's approval to sponsor the gold-plating of the temple's idols and valuables at his expense. The TDB handed over the items - weighed 42.8 kg - to Potty's company, Smart Creations, in Chennai. When the gold-covered copper plates were brought back to the temple, their weight had inexplicably dropped to 38.258 kg. Despite this, the TDB entrusted Potty with a gold-plating project this year.

The current controversy erupted after the Kerala High Court ordered the immediate return of the panels taken out of the temple for repair and censured the TDB for violating the Devaswom manual and not informing the court-appointed Sabarimala Special Commissioner. According to the court, the incident demonstrated the "alarming manner" in which the Devaswom officials had acted jointly with Unnikrishnan Potty, betraying both the sanctity of temple property and the trust reposed in them by the devotees.

The Court, earlier this week, directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged irregularities related to the reduced weight of gold-clad copper plates - a day after the TDB vigilance recorded the statement of Potty. The investigation will be led by former Superintendent of Police S Sasidharan and will be overseen by Crime Branch chief Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H Venkatesh. The team will also consist of three inspectors, including cyber experts.

Shashi Tharoor on Sabarimala gold theft

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has demanded accountability from the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government over the alleged gold theft and expressed suspicion over the incident.

"I think everybody in Kerala realises that there is something really fishy about what is going on. The allegations that many kilos of gold seem to have been siphoned off. This is a very serious charge. I am glad that there is now a High Court-monitored SIT investigation. But the fact is that the entire public is going to be very concerned. We have been hearing some very shocking details about what seems to have happened...It seems to be a systematic problem that has gone on for some years under the present government. I think accountability is a must," he said.