HC Permits Golden Panel Installation, but Orders Investigation into Missing Pedestal Found at Sponsor’s Relative’s House
Kochi: The High Court has ordered a detailed investigation into the incident of the Sabarimala Dwarapalaka pedestal being found at the house of a sponsor’s relative. Pointing out that there is no accuracy in the registers of the Devaswom Board, the High Court appointed a retired District Judge for the inquiry.
The strong room must be inspected. The records must be checked and the gold ornaments accounted for. The Thiruvabharanam register must also be examined. The quantity of gold and its value must be calculated. The High Court noted that there is ambiguity in the records since 1999. The High Court also directed that the Devaswom Vigilance inquiry must continue. The Court instructed the Devaswom Chief Vigilance Officer to safeguard the secret nature of the documents and the property. The High Court also granted permission to install the repaired golden panels.
The pedestal of the Dwarapalaka idols, which had gone missing from Sabarimala, was found during the Devaswom Vigilance investigation. It was from the house of sponsor Unnikrishnan’s relative that the pedestal was recovered. It was Unnikrishnan himself who had earlier filed a complaint stating that the pedestal was missing.
The pedestal was found in the house of Unnikrishnan’s sister at Vattappara, Vembayam. as per media reports On August 13, the pedestal was shifted to the sister’s house. Earlier, it had been kept in the house of a worker. When the issue of the missing pedestal became controversial, the worker returned it. Since 2021, the pedestal had been kept in Unnikrishnan’s house. Later it was moved to his sister’s house.
As part of the investigation, when asked about the Dwarapalaka pedestal, sponsor Unnikrishnan said that he had donated it and did not know where it was. It was while considering the case related to the golden panels that the High Court also referred to the matter of the pedestal. Following this, the Devaswom Vigilance investigation was launched,the matter has been posted for hearing in October end.
The controversy over the missing Sabarimala Dwarapalaka pedestal has sparked sharp political reactions, even as the Global Ayyappa Sangamam remains in focus. Devaswom Minister V. N. Vasavan alleged that sponsor Unnikrishnan Potti, in whose relative’s house the pedestal was found, staged a drama after hiding it, raising suspicion of a conspiracy. Devaswom Board President P. S. Prashanth hit back, questioning why false blame was cast on the Board despite Potti himself keeping it, adding that the entire episode was aimed at tarnishing the spirit of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam. Former Board chief A. Padmakumar too expressed surprise at Potti’s actions, stressing that the government and Board had already ensured a proper probe, with the final word now left to the court.