Mystery Everywhere: How Did 42 Kg Become 38 Kg? HC’s Serious Finding on Sabarimala Gold Panels; Probe Ordered

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Kochi: In the serious finding that the weight of the Sabarimala gold panels has decreased, the High Court has ordered an investigation. In 2019, when the golden pedestal and panels were dismantled, the weight was 42 kg. But when it was taken to an institution in Chennai for repair, it became 38 kg. The court directed the Devaswom Vigilance SP to urgently investigate the difference in weight and submit a report. The court had also asked the Devaswom Board to produce all the documents related to the gold panels. While examining the records in detail, the difference in weight came to the attention of the court.

The weight of the gold panels is 25.4 kg. For the two pedestals, the weight is 17.4 kg. The total weight is 42.8 kg. This weight was clearly recorded in the Devaswom’s records when they were dismantled for repair. But when it reached the institution called Smart Creation in Chennai and was weighed, it had decreased to 38 kg. The weighing in Chennai was done in the presence of the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner. The court said that the reduction of 4 kg was unnatural.

The gold panels reached the Chennai institution one and a half months after being dismantled. This too is suspicious. The court also pointed out that there was not much security arranged while taking it to Chennai. The court expressed suspicion whether Devaswom officials had knowingly hidden the reduction in weight.

The sponsor, Unnikrishnan Potty, had sent an email to the Devaswom in 2019 regarding this. It mentioned that the gold-covered panels were stored in the strong room. If that is so, the court asked whether there were two sets of panels for covering the Dwarapalaka idols. There is no record about such panels in the strong room documents. In such a situation, the court demanded that it must be found where the panel is. The court expressed dissatisfaction that even though this is such a serious matter, the Devaswom Board had not investigated it.

“If it were petrol, we could assume evaporation. But how can the weight of gold-plated copper panels decrease?” the court asked. “Let the truth come out,” the court said.