"Let investigation take its course": Former Kerala Devaswom minister on Sabarimala gold-plating row

"The controversy over the gold-plating has surfaced now. The High Court is directly looking into the matter. The state government has also decided to probe everything related to it. Investigation is being carried out under the direct supervision of the High Court", the former minister told reporters here.

Earlier, the Kerala High Court ordered an investigation into the Sabaraimala row. The Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala temple had gold-plated copper plates, originally installed in 1999, with the intention of keeping them there for the next 40 years. However, defects were seen in the plates after just a few years. In 2019, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) had removed the plates for repairing.

Calling for a thorough investigation into the incident, the former minister said, "Let the investigation proceed thoroughly, and through it, let the culprits be identified. That is the government's stance, and it should be everyone's stance. The probe is to determine whether there was any lapse or not. Let that investigation take its course."

Surendran was the state's minister for Co-Operation, Tourism and Devaswom between 2016 and 2021.

Meanwhile, TDB is also seeking an investigation into all matters related to Sabarimala from 1999 to 2025, saying that they will move the court after it re-opens.

"The Travancore Devaswom Board will request the High Court to investigate all matters related to Sabarimala from 1999 to 2025. The request for investigation will be made on the very day the High Court reopens after the Puja holidays. The Board has no intention of protecting any official if wrongdoing is found. Unnikrishnan Potty carried out numerous scams and embezzlements in the name of Sabarimala", TDB president PS Prasanth said.

Meanwhile, V Sree Kumar, a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) member called for devotees to "take matter into their hands" and force the government to order a comprehensive inquiry. He accused the state government and the TDB of malpractice.

"It is because of the connivance of Devaswom officials and with the political leadership of that timewhich is responsible for the malpractices happening in Sabarimala. Now is the time for Hindu organisations, the devotees, to take the matter into their hands, and force the Devoswom board, the government to order a complete comprehensive enquiry under the supervision of Kerala High Court. Even a CBI enquiry is also preferable", Kumar told ANI.

Historical records show that the 1998 gold cladding, completed in 1999, was carried out under the leadership of Chennai-based jeweller Nagarajan of JNR Jewellery with the expertise of 53 Tamil Nadu artisans. The process involved layering gold beaten into thin foils and bonding them onto copper plates with mercury.

In 2019, during repairs, Devaswom records listed the removed panels as copper sheets. When the replated panels were returned, records showed a reduction of 4.41 kg. Unnikrishnan Potty testified that the sheets given to him were copper-based with residual gold, later replated at a Chennai firm. (ANI)