Satheesan alleges gold-plated Sabarimala idol sold to millionaire for crores

Opposition leader in the Kerala assembly, VD Satheesan, has on Tuesday alleged that the gold-plated Dwarapalaka sculpture in Sabarimala was sold to a millionaire in the state for crores of rupees.

Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday, Satheesan said that it has been revealed that the Dwarpalaka idol, which reached Chennai for repair works, was another one made of copper, while the real gold-plated one was sold to a millionaire in the state for crores of rupees. The state government should tell us to which millionaire in the state they sold this gold-plated sculpture?

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“The state government should tell us to which millionaire in the state this gold-plated idol was sold. Which millionaire’s house is it now? The court’s finding is that the Dwarpalaka sculpture of Sabarimala was sold,” Satheesan said.

This is clearly a theft, the Opposition leader said, and added that the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) was very much aware of this theft, but it chose to hush up the whole incident as many big guns in the government and the TDB are part of the operation.

The government, which knows all this, has summoned Unnikrishnan Potty in 2025 for the next theft, V.D. Satheesan alleged.

He further said that a case cannot be filed against Unnikrishnan Potty alone. The bigwigs of the Devaswom Board and the government who were involved in the operation will also be booked in the case, he said.

The opposition leader demanded the resignation of Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan over the alleged “gold theft” in the Sabarimala temple. He also demanded that the Devaswom Board president be removed from his position.

He said that Potty sent an email to the TDB president, N Vasu, saying, “Some gold remains as balance. It can be sold and can be financed for the marriage of poor girls.”

“Vasu is close to the CPI-M. That person knows all this. He is hiding everything,” Satheesan said.

“The gold-plated Dwarpalaka sculpture was sold for crores of rupees. The CPI-M should say where it is now?” Satheesan asked.