Thiruvananthapuram: V.D. Satheesan, the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, stated on Tuesday that the gold from the renowned Sabarimala temple’s Dwarapalaka plates was sold for crores of rupees with the consent of the Devaswom Board and the government. Addressing reporters after the day’s session in the Kerala Legislative Assembly concluded amid protests by the Congress-led Opposition, Satheesan asserted that the High Court’s findings validated the Opposition’s longstanding claim of a “serious act of theft and sale” at Sabarimala. “The court has made it clear that what occurred was a significant fraud. The original gold-plated Dwarapalaka plates were removed from the temple and sold at a premium, while a copper mold was sent to Chennai as a replacement.
When it was returned, the Devaswom Board chose to ignore the difference in weight,” he explained. Satheesan accused the Board and the government of intentionally concealing the theft to protect senior officials from being implicated. He noted that they re-appointed Unnikrishnan Potti in 2015 for further gold work, despite being aware of the situation. Consequently, the Opposition demanded the resignation of Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan and the disbandment of the Board. Satheesan highlighted that the High Court’s criticism reinforced the legitimacy of the Opposition’s concerns. He referenced an email from Potti to then Board president N. Vasu, requesting leftover temple gold to assist in a woman’s wedding, calling it Ayyappan’s gold.
“Vasu, who has ties to the CPI(M), cannot claim ignorance,” he stated, urging the ruling party to disclose the location of the original idol. He also charged the government with hypocrisy for invoking judicial authority, noting that three current Ministers who previously insulted and expelled Chief Justice V.K. Bali for ordering a CBI investigation in the Lavalin case are now advocating for respect towards the courts. Satheesan declared that protests would persist both “inside and outside the House until accountability is established.” He stated, “The sanctity of Sabarimala has been compromised, devotees deceived, and public trust betrayed. Those in power must be held accountable for the theft that has brought shame to the state.”
