A Bengaluru-based individual is at the centre of a burgeoning scandal involving the alleged misappropriation of gold offerings intended for the sacred Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala, a probe by the temple's managing body has revealed.
According to a report by Deccan Herald, the Travancore Devaswom Board's (TDB) vigilance wing is investigating Unnikrishnan Potti, who had offered to gold plate the 'Dwarapalaka' (guardian) idols at the temple's sanctum sanctorum. The investigation suspects Potti of engaging in massive fundraising from devotees across various states for the project.
The case reportedly came to light following "procedural lapses" in removing the existing gold plating from the idols to send them to Chennai for repairs. A division bench of the Kerala High Court later pointed out a startling discrepancy: the weight of the gold-plated copper cover had decreased by 4.541 kilograms after the 2019 process that was managed by Potti.
The mystery deepened when a gold-plated pedestal, which Potti himself had reported missing, was recovered by the devaswom vigilance from his sister's house. A staff member of Potti's was allegedly in possession of the item until the scandal broke.
Potti, who is currently in Thiruvananthapuram, has publicly denied all allegations. He told reporters, “I will produce all documents being sought by the court and the devaswom vigilance to prove my innocence.”
Further complicating the matter, authorities at the Sri Ayyappan temple in Bengaluru's Srirampura area revealed that Potti, along with two others, had displayed a panel there in 2019, presenting it as part of the Sabarimala temple door to solicit donations. Potti maintains it was merely a wooden door intended for Sabarimala, shown to devotees for viewing.
Who is Unnikrishnan Potti - the figure under scrutiny?
As reported by Deccan Herald, Potti, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, previously served as an assistant priest at the Srirampura temple before being expelled in 2004. He later worked as an assistant to a junior priest at Sabarimala and is now believed to act as a mediator for wealthy businessmen making offerings to the temple.
Now settled in Bengaluru, he is suspected of being involved in money lending and faces accusations in two criminal cases in Thiruvananthapuram.
The scandal has ignited a political firestorm in the state. The opposition Congress-led UDF has blamed the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF government and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. Opposition leader VD Satheesan alleged the "gold looting" occurred with the government's connivance, while UDF convenor Adoor Prakash formally called for a CBI investigation.
In response, the state government and the TDB have placed the blame squarely on Potti and have welcomed a comprehensive probe, even suggesting it should examine temple affairs dating back to 1999.
In a significant development, the Kerala High Court appointed former judge KT Sankaran on Monday to conduct a full appraisal of the temple's valuables, signalling the seriousness of the suspected financial and managerial irregularities now clouding one of India's most prominent pilgrimage sites.
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