Thiruvananthapuram: Former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran has issued a legal notice to Opposition Leader V D Satheesan over his remarks linking him to the alleged irregularities in the gold-plating of the Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala temple.

Kadakampally has demanded that Satheesan retract his statements and issue a public apology within seven days. Failing this, he has warned of initiating both civil and criminal proceedings for defamation and seeking ₹2 crore in compensation.

The notice, sent through Kadakampally’s counsel, accuses Satheesan of making “false, defamatory and malicious” statements during a recent press conference. Satheesan had alleged that the Dwarapalaka idols were sold for crores and claimed that “Kadakampally Surendran knows who bought them.”

Quoting Satheesan, the notice cited his statement: “Now it’s not only that the Dwarapalaka sculptures have been handed over to millionaires, even the temple doors and steps have been removed. Claiming falsely that they were damaged, they too have been dismantled and taken away. Only the Ayyappa idol remains there. The attempt in 2025 was to take even that away. The then Minister Kadakampally Surendran knows very well which millionaire bought the Dwarapalaka sculptures of Sabarimala.”

In response, Kadakampally stated that he had served as Devaswom Minister from 2016 to 2021 and had “worked to safeguard the interests of devotees and temple assets.” He denied any involvement in the technical or operational aspects of the temple’s gold-plating or artefact maintenance.

“Despite the absence of any factual basis, you deliberately made contemptuous and damaging imputations against him, violating all norms of decency expected from a political leader,” the notice said.

The notice also clarified that under the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act (TCHRI), the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is an autonomous body with exclusive powers over temple administration and assets. “Neither the state government nor any minister has authority to interfere in the Board’s financial or administrative affairs,” it said.

Calling the allegations “false, malicious and politically motivated,” the notice said the remarks have caused “serious harm” to Kadakampally’s personal reputation and political standing.