The revered Sabarimala temple’s gold-plated copper panels, adorning the guardian deities known as Dwarapalakas, have made their return from Chennai following a period of repairs, as confirmed by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).
This return, however, is far from simple, stirring significant controversy. The Kerala High Court had previously raised serious concerns, noting that the plates were removed and transported without official permission. Adding to the gravity of the situation, the court also highlighted a puzzling discrepancy: records indicated the plates weighed 42.8 kg when initially taken for re-gold-plating in 2019, yet they mysteriously weighed only 38.258 kg when presented to the repair company. This significant difference has prompted the court to order a thorough Vigilance probe, with the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) already launching a preliminary investigation.
TDB officials have stated that with the repairs now complete, the panels will be reinstalled at the temple after receiving approval from the Tantri (chief priest), and the High Court will be formally informed of these developments in due course.