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Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 5 (IANS) Opposition leader VD Satheesan on Wednesday said the Kerala High Court’s latest observations have vindicated the opposition’s long-standing allegation that the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) showed undue haste in shifting the idols of the Dwarapalakas (temple gatekeepers) for the gold plating work at the famous Sabarimala temple.
“The High Court has confirmed what we have been saying all along – that the TDB showed undue haste in transporting the idols,” Satheesan said.
“The court has also underlined our allegation that Unikrishnan Potti is acting as the de facto authority at Sabarimala,” he said.
Satheesan, former Devaswom Commissioner N. Demanding Vasu’s immediate arrest, it said that during his tenure, gold-plated copper sheets were altered and wrong information was given in official records.
“Potti, the first accused in the case, had emailed Vasu on December 9, 2019, saying that some gold sheets were left and they could be used in the wedding of a poor woman. Vasu himself has admitted to receiving this mail,” he said.
He pointed out that Vasu had served as Devaswom commissioner twice and was subsequently appointed TDB president just months after the scam came to light – a move Satheesan alleged reflected his political clout within the CPI-M and the state government.
“Everyone knows that if Vasu is arrested, ministers and senior CPI-M leaders will also be exposed,” the opposition leader alleged.
He said that since the investigation now covers irregularities between 2018 and 2025, the current Devaswom Board has no moral right to continue in office.
“Instead of taking action against those responsible, the government and CPI-M are trying to extend the tenure of the board to save them. The opposition will not allow this,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the Kerala High Court had allowed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a scientific examination as part of its probe into alleged gold plating irregularities.
Three people have been arrested so far, while Vasu has been questioned once and released.
Those arrested along with Poti include serving TDB official Murari Babu and Sudhish Kumar, Vasu’s former personal secretary during his tenure as TDB president.
Vasu, a close aide of the ruling party, previously served as president of the CPI(M)-ruled village council and was part of veteran CPI(M) leader PK Gurudasan’s staff when he was excise minister in the VS Achuthanandan cabinet (2006-11).
–IANS
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