The special investigation team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold theft case will expand the scope of its investigation to include the replacement of the temple’s flagpole in 2017, when Prayar Gopalakrishnan was the president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).
The SIT and the Devaswom Vigilance have launched an investigation at the direction of the Kerala High Court.
The SIT received information about the replacement of the flagpole while taking statements from people associated with Thantri Kandaru Rajeevaru, who was arrested in the Sabarimal gold theft case. The flagpole was replaced when Prayar Gopalakrishnan was the president of the TDB.
The replacement of the flagpole is shrouded in mystery, as it had remained intact for years. The old flagpole was replaced on the grounds that its base was damaged. However, the base of the flagpole is made of concrete. Footage related to the replacement has also been released.
Meanwhile, footage has emerged showing then Travancore Devaswom Board president(TDB) Prayar Gopalakrishnan and Devaswom Board member Ajay Tharayil handing over the ‘vaji vahanam’ (horse effigy), which was part of the flagpole, to Thantri Kantararu Rajeevaru.
The SIT recovered the ‘vaji vahanam’ during a raid at the residence of Thantri Rajeevaru in Chengannur the other day. The SIT subsequently submitted the seized artefact to the Kollam Vigilance Court. The Vaji vahanam is a sculpture of considerable age, made of 11 kg of Panchaloham and covered in gold.
The decision to replace the old flagpole and install a new one was made during the tenure of the Oommen Chandy government, while it was implemented under the Pinarayi Vijayan government. The old flagpole was ultimately replaced, and the new one was installed, in 2017.
Reports indicate that discussions about replacing the old flagpole took place between 2014 and 2016. During a devaprashana held at that time, it was said that the bottom of the flagpole was torn and that the flagpole should be replaced. The old flagpole was erected in the 1970s. At that time, a gold-plated flagpole was erected. Its bottom was made of concrete.
Questions now remain over the whereabouts of the Ashtadik Palakar on the old flagpole. Authorities said that the decades-old Ashtadik Palakar worth crores of rupees is in the strongroom. However, it has been reported that it was not found in the strong room. In addition, the SIT is also trying to find an answer to the question as to why the old flagpole, which was in good condition, was replaced.
Meanwhile, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered a case over alleged irregularities in the sale of ‘Adiya Sishtam Ghee’ in Sabarimala. The Kerala High Court had earlier directed the Vigilance to probe the matter after irregularities regarding the sale of Adiya Sishtam Ghee, a sacred offering to devotees, came to its attention through a report by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner. A special team, led by SP Mahesh Kumar, is in charge of the investigation.
Preliminary findings had revealed that within a short span of less than two months, an amount of approximately Rs 35 lakh was siphoned off exclusively from the sale of Adiya Sishtam Ghee. The proceeds from this offering form a crucial part of the Travancore Devaswom Board’s revenue.
The chief vigilance and security officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board disclosed that the sale proceeds of 16,628 packets of ghee sold from the counter in the Maramath Building were not remitted to the Devaswom account.