The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the immediate seizure of all records connected with the gold-plating of the ‘Dwarapalaka’ (guardian deity) idols at the Sabarimala temple, observing that the entire transaction was riddled with “unanswered questions.”
A division bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K V Jayakumar issued the order while hearing a suo motu petition regarding the removal of the gold-plated copper coverings of the idols situated on either side of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) without the knowledge of the Special Commissioner, Sabarimala.
The bench noted that the process surrounding the cladding and its subsequent removal lacked transparency.
“The entire transaction remains replete with unanswered questions,” the court remarked, directing that the Vigilance Chief Superintendent of Police and the Security Officer seize all documents relating to the gold-plating and gold-cladding of the Dwarapalakas, the door lintel, door panel, Lakshmi Roopam, and Kamanam from the time of the original cladding.
The court further directed that records related to another set of Dwarapalaka idols kept in the strong room be produced before it.
To ensure clarity on the issue, the court impleaded the firm responsible for the electroplating and the sponsor who had financed the work as parties in the case.
The order came two days after the High Court instructed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to bring back from Chennai the gold-plated copper sheets that had been removed from the Dwarapalaka idols. The bench had criticised the TDB for removing them without prior approval, terming the action “inappropriate.”
Earlier this week, the TDB had dismissed media reports claiming that the golden Dwarapalaka idols themselves had been detached and transported to Chennai for repairs without permission.
The original cladding of the idols was reportedly carried out more than a decade ago, prior to 2019. The court has now sought complete disclosure of all records from that period, indicating its intention to scrutinise the process thoroughly.
The matter is expected to come up for further hearing after the seized documents and reports are presented before the bench.
