An ongoing inventory audit by an amicus curiae appointed by the High Court has revealed that a 55.72-pavan gold crown, offered by devotees at Sabarimala in 2012, is missing, according to findings reported by News18.
While temple registers contain clear records of the precious offering from Tamil Nadu devotees, information emerging from the investigation indicates that the item currently held in the Travancore Devaswom Board’s strong room in Aranmula is a fake replica. The high-level stock-taking follows the broader Sabarimala gold heist investigation, which has raised serious suspicions among the probe team regarding widespread irregularities in temple asset management.
Under established regulations set by the Travancore Devaswom Board, valuable items presented by devotees at Sannidhanam should not remain in the local strong room for extended periods, but must instead be transferred to the primary strong room in Aranmula. Initial information indicates that the missing gold crown was never properly transferred to the Aranmula facility, deepening concerns over accountability and tracking within the temple administration.
Did You Know?
According to the governing regulations of the Travancore Devaswom Board, high-value offerings made by devotees at Sabarimala are required to be systematically relocated from the Sannidhanam strong room to the main strong room facility in Aranmula rather than being kept in local storage long-term.
Audit Timeline and Final Report Submission
The discovery emerged directly from the comprehensive stock assessment currently being conducted by the court-appointed amicus curiae. Investigators are finalizing their inspections, and the amicus curiae is expected to submit the final report to the High Court shortly.
The ongoing judicial inquiry aims to account for discrepancies tied to the Sabarimala gold theft allegations. The audit focuses heavily on reconciling physical holdings with official registers across multiple storage facilities.
Potential Next Steps in the Judicial Inquiry
Following the submission of the final report, the High Court is likely to review the amicus curiae’s findings regarding the missing 55.72-pavan crown and the presence of a substitute item in Aranmula.
Frequently Asked Questions
What item is reported missing from Sabarimala?
A 55.72-pavan gold crown offered by devotees from Tamil Nadu in 2012 is missing, with reports indicating that a fake item is currently stored in the Aranmula strong room instead.
Who is conducting the current inventory audit?
An amicus curiae appointed by the High Court is conducting the wide-ranging stock-taking and preparing an impending final report for the court.
What does board policy require for valuable devotee offerings?
According to Travancore Devaswom Board regulations, valuables placed at Sabarimala must be transferred from the Sannidhanam strong room to the primary strong room in Aranmula rather than remaining stored locally for long periods.