The Kerala High Court on Thursday criticized the “VIP treatment” afforded to Malayalam actor Dileep during his visit to the Sabarimala shrine, stating it had impeded the access of other pilgrims. Justices Anil K Narendra and Muralee Krishna S described the incident as “very very serious,” highlighting how such privileges granted to the actor disrupted the spiritual experience for many.
The controversy arose after actor Dileep was allowed prolonged access to the Sopanam, the sacred platform near the deity, effectively blocking other pilgrims from viewing Lord Ayyappa. The court’s observations followed a review of CCTV footage from the shrine, which showed the actor occupying the prime spot from 10:58 PM to 11:05:45 PM on December 5, while the guards restricted other devotees’ access.
In response to this incident, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the temple, stated it had issued show cause notices to the officers involved, including the guards responsible for the movement regulation. However, the High Court demanded further assurances that such incidents would not be repeated, directing both the TDB and the Chief Police Coordinator to take necessary steps to prevent any reoccurrences of preferential treatment.
The issue first came to light through media reports and quickly escalated, prompting the High Court to take suo moto cognizance. Last Friday, the court had already expressed its displeasure with the police and the TDB for providing such “VIP darshan” during the busy annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, which sees a significant influx of devotees.
