7 months ago
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Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P.S. Prasanth connected Saturday (October 4, 2025) appeared to suggest that the committee authorities mightiness person erred successful 2019 by entrusting the Sabarimala temple panels for repair to Unnikrishnan Potty, a erstwhile temple helper presently astatine the centre of the contention concerning the alleged “misappropriation” of invaluable spiritual artefacts from the Ayyappa temple.
Mr. Prasanth told reporters successful Thiruvananthapuram that the Chennai-based firm, which the TDB had contracted for restoring the gold-plated copper overlays covering the past chromatic carvings and sculptures astatine the temple successful 2019, had issued a 40-year warranty successful Mr. Potty’s name.
“Instead of the TDB, the warrantor named the expected sponsor, Mr. Potty, arsenic the archetypal purchaser successful the 2019 attraction contract”, helium said.
Mr. Prasanth said the TDB was constrained to question Mr. Potty’s help, fixed that the restoration steadfast had issued the warranty successful his name, again successful 2025, to repair the copper-gold covering of the 2 chromatic sculptures flanking the entranceway to the Sabarimala temple’s sanctum sanctorum.
“The TDB sent a missive summoning him to the store successful Chennai. The 12 gold-copper panels covering the dwarapalaka sculptures were transported to Chennai successful a highly secured conveyance with constabulary escort. The Sabarimala Thiruvabharanam Commissioner travelled successful the aforesaid vehicle”, helium added.
(Earlier, the TDB had travel nether disapproval for entrusting the panels to Mr. Potty for repair, who had allegedly utilized a tiny van for transporting the objects successful 2019)
Mr. Prasanth said the TDB would transportation the warranty from Mr. Potty to the board’s name, with the High Court’s permission.
Mr. Prasanth said the TDB had video-recorded the removal of the golden coverings successful the beingness of autarkic authorities witnesses to guarantee transparency and accountability.
Mr. Prasanth besides dispelled the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF)‘s accusation that 4 kg of golden were missing from the sculpture coverings, which helium claimed “had nary ground successful reality.”
“The 14 panels that marque up the covering measurement 38 kg. The full value of golden successful the alloy is simply a meagre 397 grams. The TDB dispatched 12 panels for refurbishment. After restoration successful Chennai, the value of golden successful the panels has accrued by 10 grams. The TDB had donated the other gold”, helium said.
Mr. Prasanth admitted that the TDB “erred minimally” successful not having informed the High Court-appointed Sabarimala Special Commissioner successful beforehand astir the removal of the plates for overhaul. “The High Court has pardoned the overlook. It has allowed the TDB to reinstall the covering with the Chief Priest’s authorisation connected October 27. The restored coverings are presently successful the temple’s strongroom”, helium added.
