V D Satheesan, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, on Saturday claimed the missing temple gold was traced to a millionaire’s home. He pointed to the recent action by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that searched a jewellery shop owned by Govardhan, a Karnataka-based businessman who had reportedly funded some gold-plating work for the temple. The SIT allegedly seized several gold bars from his shop.
According to a PTI report, Satheesan said, "So, we (the opposition Congress) were correct when we said that the gold was sold to a millionaire. Everything the Opposition said about the missing gold issue has been proved right till now."
He also accused the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) of hiding facts, inviting the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty to oversee the gold-plating of the dwarapalaka idols’ coverings and doorframes without oversight.
The investigation has revealed that Potty is the prime accused in two linked cases: the disappearance of gold from the dwarapalaka idols’ plates and the missing gold around the sacred doorframes inside the temple. He is now in SIT custody.
Satheesan is demanding the resignation of the Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan and the dissolution of the TDB, saying the minister must “take responsibility for the gross irregularities”.
Meanwhile, the High Court had earlier ordered the seizure of records related to the gold-plating work, signalling judicial alarm.
The SIT now reportedly plans to expand its case to include tracing gold sales, financial transactions and asset holdings of those involved. In one recent finding, the gold sold to Govardhan was about 476 g in 2019, according to a Mathrubhumi report.
