Desk Report:
The allegations of gold theft at the famous Sabarimala temple in South India have created a huge stir. The Kerala High Court has said that evidence has been found that the gold covering has been removed from some of the deities of the temple. Such a scandal at the temple, which is visited by lakhs of devotees every year, has shocked devotees.
The Kerala High Court has already formed a special investigation team and the police have arrested three people in the gold theft case, the BBC reported on Wednesday (October 5). Among those arrested is Unnikrishnan Patti, a former assistant priest of the temple. Two judges of the court, Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar, have been overseeing the case since last September.
What was stolen?
At the center of this controversy are two gatekeeper statues. These two statues are installed outside the sanctum sanctorum of the main deity Ayyappa. The report of the court-appointed Sabarimala Special Commissioner has shown that the gold covering is missing from many parts of the two statues.
According to temple records, the idols and various parts of the temple including the doors, arches, pillars and other parts were gold-plated using 30.29 kg of gold donated by businessman Vijay Mallya in 1998-99. But in 2019, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) allowed the then assistant priest Unnikrishnan Patti to take the two gatekeeper idols out of the temple for a fresh gold plating—a rare occurrence.
The idols were returned two months later, but their weight was not measured. Later, an investigation revealed that the idols had become much lighter. The SIT said that about 4 kg 540 grams of gold, including the idol, the foot idol and the door frame, had gone missing. The court termed the incident as a ‘gold robbery’.
The judges strongly blamed the TDB for showing the idols as ‘copper plates’ in the records. Unnikrishnan Patti was even allowed to keep 475 grams of gold with him. He later emailed permission to use the gold for a relative’s wedding. The court termed the matter as “deeply concerning”.
Accused and reaction
Unnikrishnan Patti was sent to judicial custody after being produced in court. While leaving, he told reporters, “I have been framed, the truth will come out one day.”
Meanwhile, the police have arrested two more board officials.
Political reaction
The scandal has also sparked a political debate in Kerala. Opposition Congress leader V D Satheesan alleged, “Around 5 kg of gold has been stolen, officials are also involved in this.” He demanded the resignation of Temple Affairs Minister V N Basavan.
Minister Basavan, however, denied the allegations and said, “The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of the court, we will not hide anything.”
The Kerala High Court has ordered that the investigation should be completed within six weeks, the identity of the culprits should be identified and brought to justice.
