The Sabarimala gold controversy in Kerala took a dramatic turn on Thursday, with fresh accusations flying and demands for a full probe into what critics call outright fraud at the famous temple.
Unnikrishnan Potti, the man behind a major fundraising drive linked to Sabarimala activities, spoke to reporters and promised to cooperate if vigilance officials summon him. He flatly denied any misconduct, saying he’s done nothing wrong and will fight any claims in court.
But the Devaswom Board’s vigilance report paints a different picture. It claims Potti gathered huge donations from devotees across several states, promising to use the money for gold plating the Sabarimala idol and providing annadanam, or free community meals. Officials allegedly helped him out, raising big red flags about transparency in how temple funds flow.
V.D. Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition, didn’t hold back. He slammed the whole mess as “fraud and theft” at Sabarimala, pointing fingers at both past and present Devaswom Boards and state governments for shielding those involved in the gold misappropriation. Satheesan noted that gold under a 40-year warranty got pulled after just 20 years—without High Court okay—and came back short, as the Board’s own probe confirmed. He wants ministers and board presidents held accountable for greenlighting the move, and he blasted middlemen like Potti for cashing in on devotees’ deep faith.
Devaswom Board President P.S. Prashant pushed back a bit, admitting officials slipped up on paperwork for the High Court. Still, he stressed that the Board keeps tight records on all gold in 18 lockers, including 467 kg sold off through the Reserve Bank of India. Prashant said they’ll push for a full investigation overseen by the High Court to sort this out.
The row has the Congress-led UDF opposition ramping up calls for a CBI probe to keep things fair and unbiased. The Kerala High Court has already stepped in, ordering a secret and detailed review of everything tied to the temple’s sanctum sanctorum—from checking strong room stocks to auditing the Thiruvabharanam register.
As this Sabarimala gold plate saga heats up, eyes are on temple bosses, go-betweens, and politicians alike. Devotees and the public want straight answers on accountability and real transparency for handling these sacred temple assets.
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