The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has announced it will petition the Kerala High Court to seek a comprehensive investigation into the gold plating of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols at the Sabarimala temple, covering a period from 1998 to 2025.
TDB President PS Prasanth confirmed the decision on Friday, stating the board's standing counsel has been instructed to file a petition once the High Court resumes following the Pooja holiday. Prasanth said the inquiry would aim to determine the exact quantity of gold used at Sabarimala and identify all individuals involved.
The investigation will span from September 1998, following a gold donation made by businessman Vijay Mallya for plating work, right up to the present day in 2025.
Addressing questions about the availability of records from 1998, Prasanth explained that back then, the work was overseen by the Public Works Department, and systematic documentation only began ten to fifteen years ago. He acknowledged that how the process was handled before that time is "unknown to me, but it will be investigated."
Regarding allegations against sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty, who the High Court ordered a probe into last week, Prasanth noted: "He had earlier raised allegations against TDB. Now he is in the dock. We had sidelined him from the beginning."
Prasanth expressed full confidence in the authenticity of Chennai-based Smart Creations, the authorised agency contracted to re-plate the gold-clad copper plates of the Dwarapalaka idols. "Trusting their warranty, we approached them for re-plating. There were no lapses on our part, and the plates were transported securely," he asserted.
The TDB President also clarified that a 2019 TDB order did not explicitly state that Potty would personally handle the gold plates during the re-plating process. Instead, the order specified that the work should be carried out "under the leadership of the Thiruvabharanam commissioner, with the sponsorship and responsibility of Potty." Prasanth added: "How this was implemented needs to be investigated."
Meanwhile, the TDB Vigilance wing is conducting a separate detailed probe, with Prasanth expressing confidence that "the truth would emerge." The Vigilance Wing, led by Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar V, has already summoned Potty for interrogation at its office on Saturday, though officials report they have received no further communication from him.
Also read: TDB returns Sabarimala Dwarapalaka idol gold plates amid row
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