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Kerala High Court Orders SIT Probe Into Missing Sabarimala Gold As Political Storm Erupts
Kerala High Court Orders SIT Probe Into Missing Sabarimala Gold As Political Storm Erupts
The Kerala High Court has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by an ADGP-rank officer to probe the issue of missing gold at the Sabarimala temple.
The Kerala legislative assembly witnessed a massive protest on Monday over the missing gold, with the opposition Congress-led UDF bringing in banners and placards. When the session began, opposition leader VD Satheeshan said Lord Ayyappa's gold being stolen has shocked devotees and he demanded the resignation of Devaswom minister VN Vasavan.
As Speaker AN Shamseer continued with the Question Hour, opposition members came to the Well of the House, started raising slogans and lifted the banner covering the Speaker. The Speaker suspended the Question Hour session but later, when the session resumed, the Opposition continued their protest. The assembly session was then adjourned for the day.
Earlier, the high court had asked Devaswom Vigilance to look into the issue. The court had also appointed a retired high court judge to conduct a comprehensive inventory check of all valuables, including gold, silver, precious stones, and articles of antiquity, at the Sabarimala temple.
The high court, in its order, also said the ‘Dwarapalakas' handed over by the Devaswom Board to Unnikrishnan Potti had been clad with 1.564 kilograms of gold, and were therefore not mere
“copper plates" as inaccurately described in the Mahazar dated 19.07.2019.
The court said the revelation fundamentally alters the complexion of the case and brings within its fold the ingredients of the offences of theft, criminal misappropriation and criminal breach of trust.
The court also said the responsibility extends to certain officers of the Travancore Devaswom Board too.
What Is The Controversy?
In 2019, the gold-cladded copper plates of the ‘Dwarapalaka' (guardian deity) idols in front of the Sabarimala sanctum sanctorum were removed for fresh gold plating. When the plates were brought back, there was an unexplained reduction of 4.5 kilograms in their weight.
A person named Unnikrishnan Potti was the sponsor to whom the work was entrusted. It was also found that it took about 39-40 days for these plates to reach the company where it was given for gold plating. There were also reports that these plates were kept at some places for people to worship and were further used for fundraising.
The ‘Dwarapalaka' idols were gold-plated in 1999 by Vijay Mallya.
The Opposition is now raising several questions over the missing gold and trying to corner the government on the issue.
Satheeshan demanded that the case be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the supervision of the high court. He added that the Devaswom minister and the Travancore Devaswom Board president should also resign.
“This is a very serious matter. UB Group and Vijay Mallya donated more than 30 kg gold to the Sabarimala Temple for plating various things. Unfortunately, through some middlemen, more than 5 kilograms of that gold was robbed. We think further investigation will reveal the exact weight of gold lost, which will be much more," he said.
Satheeshan added the Devaswom Board and the government were aware of the “theft", but they had not initiated any criminal proceedings against the persons concerned.
“Devaswom Board members and some people in the government are involved in this. They tried to conceal this for a long time. It is because of the intervention of the high court that this matter came to light."
Devaswom minister VN Vasavan said they have welcomed the investigation ordered by the high court and the Travancore Devaswom Board has also asked the court for a detailed enquiry.
In the coming days, the Opposition will raise the issue inside and outside the assembly. Ahead of elections, this will be one issue the Opposition will try to raise.
Source: News18
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