55.75-Sovereign Sabarimala Gold Crown Safe in Strong Room; Thiruvabharanam Commissioner Rejects Missing Reports
Sabarimala: The original gold crown kept at Sabarimala is safe and secure in the strong room, the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner has clarified to the Devaswom Commissioner, rejecting reports that the valuable ornament had gone missing.
The original crown, weighing 55.75 sovereigns (446 grams), is safely preserved in the strong room, according to the clarification.
The Commissioner explained that confusion may have arisen during an inventory verification, as the strong room contains various items, including replicas and models of valuable ornaments. Such replicas may be kept for ritual purposes, including Padi Pooja. A replica could have been mistaken for the original during the verification process, leading to reports about the crown being missing.
Following instructions from Travancore Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar, the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner submitted a formal report clarifying the status of the crown and assuring that there is no cause for concern regarding the security of the ornaments.
The crown was also insured in 2012, providing additional financial protection for its value. Measures are in place to safeguard the ornament and protect its insured value in the event of any unforeseen circumstances.
The clarification comes amid reports regarding the alleged loss of the Sabarimala gold crown. The Thiruvabharanam Commissioner has confirmed that the original crown remains safe in the strong room.
The Kerala High Court’s findings could be crucial in determining whether there were lapses in the Travancore Devaswom Board’s security and monitoring of the Thiruvabharanam (gold ornaments). Questions may also arise over why regular audits failed to detect the alleged discrepancies.
The actual facts are expected to become clearer once the report is submitted to the High Court, with further investigation and court directions likely to determine the next course of action.