Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P.S. Prasanth on Saturday (October 4, 2025) appeared to suggest that the board authorities might have erred in 2019 by entrusting the Sabarimala temple panels for repair to Unnikrishnan Potty, a former temple helper currently at the centre of the controversy concerning the alleged “misappropriation” of valuable religious artefacts from the Ayyappa temple.
Mr. Prasanth told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that the Chennai-based firm, which the TDB had contracted for restoring the gold-plated copper overlays covering the ancient stone carvings and sculptures at the temple in 2019, had issued a 40-year warranty in Mr. Potty’s name.
“Instead of the TDB, the warrantor named the supposed sponsor, Mr. Potty, as the original purchaser in the 2019 maintenance contract”, he said.
Mr. Prasanth said the TDB was constrained to seek Mr. Potty’s help, given that the restoration firm had issued the warranty in his name, again in 2025, to repair the copper-gold covering of the two stone sculptures flanking the entrance to the Sabarimala temple’s sanctum sanctorum.
“The TDB sent a letter summoning him to the workshop in Chennai. The 12 gold-copper panels covering the dwarapalaka sculptures were transported to Chennai in a highly secured vehicle with police escort. The Sabarimala Thiruvabharanam Commissioner travelled in the same vehicle”, he added.
(Earlier, the TDB had come under criticism for entrusting the panels to Mr. Potty for repair, who had allegedly used a small van for transporting the objects in 2019)
Mr. Prasanth said the TDB would transfer 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 gold coverings in the presence of independent government witnesses to ensure transparency and accountability.
Mr. Prasanth also dispelled the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF)‘s accusation that 4 kg of gold were missing from the sculpture coverings, which he claimed “had no basis in reality.”
“The 14 panels that make up the covering weigh 38 kg. The total weight of gold in the alloy is a meagre 397 grams. The TDB dispatched 12 panels for refurbishment. After restoration in Chennai, the weight of gold in the panels has increased by 10 grams. The TDB had donated the extra gold”, he said.
Mr. Prasanth admitted that the TDB “erred minimally” in not having informed the High Court-appointed Sabarimala Special Commissioner in advance about 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 sanction on October 27. The restored coverings are currently in the temple’s strongroom”, he added.
Published – October 04, 2025 02:14 pm IST
