The probe by the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer, Devaswom, into the Sabarimala gold scandal has revealed serious malpractice regarding the door frames. The interim order issued by the Kerala High Court on Friday reproduces crucial findings from the investigation report. 

The report indicates that a substantial quantity of gold, approximately 474.9 grams, was handed over to the donor, Unnikrishnan Potty. The records do not disclose that this gold was ever re-entrusted to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). The handing over of gold-clad items mischaracterised as “copper plates,” the unauthorised extraction of gold from gold-clad plates, and the misappropriation of extracted gold, prima facie, constitute serious offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the HC noted. 

Although the investigation was initially commenced with respect to the Dwarapalakas, the foregoing facts disclose serious malpractice regarding the door frames as well, the HC observed. 

The probe has also revealed a mismatch in internal communications within the TDB. The Devaswom Vigilance SP accessed a copy of the letter by the Executive Officer dated February 16, 2019, to the Devaswom Commissioner. It records that the repairs to the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) doors at Sannidhanam, undertaken following the order issued in 2018, had reached their final stages and that the doors would be brought to Sannidhanam on or before March 11, 2019. The communication further states that the gold-clad copper plates covering the door frames also required gold plating, and specifically records that the copper plates were earlier gold-clad. The Executive Officer requested that orders be issued to hand over the door frames to Unnikrishnan Potty.

However, in his communication dated March 6, 2019, the Devaswom Commissioner described the items as 'merely copper plates' while recommending it to be handed over to Potty.  The SP noted that this was contrary to the Executive Officer's description of 'gold-clad copper plates'. The board decision dated March 20, 2019, also approved handing over the copper plates covering the door frames to Potty. The court noted that the door frames being referred to as 'copper plates' was a matter of serious gravity. 

The court had earlier recorded that a total of 30.291 kg of gold was utilised in the year 1998-1999. Prima facie, serious lapses and derelictions on the part of Board officials are apparent, and this warrants a thorough investigation on all aspects and fronts, the court said. 

Following the board's decision, a mahazar was prepared in May 2019 and was signed by Rajeev Kantararu (Thantri), V N Vasudevan Namboothiri (Melshanti), S Jayakumar (Watcher), P J Rajeesh (Guard), Sulin Kumar K (A E, Sabarimala), B.Muraribabu (A O, Sabarimala), R Shankaranarayanan (H A, Sabarimala), V M Kumar (Smith), C R Bijumon (LDC, TCO), and D Jayakumar (AEO, Sabarimala). The probe revealed that the mahazar records these door frames as “copper plates” and not gold-clad plates.