Facing accusations of deliberate attempts to tarnish its reputation and undermine the sacred nature of Sabarimala temple, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has taken a decisive step. It plans to petition the High Court for a thorough inquiry into reported discrepancies in the gold plating’s weight at Sabarimala dating back to 1998, alongside concerns regarding the temple’s alleged misuse under the guise of sponsorships.
In a formal declaration, the TDB clarified that the precise scope and nature of this investigation would be determined by the court. The board underscored that the gold-plated sheets underwent repair in Chennai, adhering strictly to established protocols. Notably, after these repairs, the collective weight of the 14 gold sheets actually saw a slight increase, moving from 397 grams to 407 grams.
The board further highlighted that a substantial 40-year warranty was provided for these gold sheets by Smart Creations and the sponsor, following earlier repair work completed in 2019. It was this existing warranty that prompted the TDB to request the sponsor in 2025 to undertake the most recent round of repairs.
Firmly dismissing claims of a 4-kilogram gold misappropriation, the board asserted that these baseless allegations are nothing more than an attempt to damage its reputation and disrespect the sacred aura of the temple.
The TDB also revealed its compliance with the Gold Monetisation Scheme and High Court directives, stating that 467 kilograms of gold had already been transferred to the Reserve Bank after a thorough state audit. All temple valuables were meticulously cataloged under the watchful eye of the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, with these comprehensive records already submitted to the court.
In a proactive move, the Board has collaborated with NIC Chennai to develop sophisticated software for digitally documenting all temple valuables, including the precious Thiruvabharanam, within a highly secure cloud-based system. These cutting-edge digital records are also slated for submission to the High Court.