Financial irregularities in installation of new flag mast in Sabarimala; Statements of Mohanlal, Dileep recorded

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The statements of actors Mohanlal and Dileep were recorded by the vigilance team investigating the financial irregularities in the installation of a new flag mast at the Sabarimala Temple. The vigilance special team enquired the stars about the details of the gold donated. The statements of the actors were recorded yesterday.

Mohanlal said that his friend and Union Minister Suresh Gopi had requested him to donate old. He told the team that he bought two sovereigns of gold from a jeweler in Thiruvananthapuram and sent it to Pampa through his friend. Mohanlal’s statement was recorded when he was in Thiruvananthapuram. Dileep's statement was recorded in Kochi. The figures regarding the gold donated by Dileep are not clear.

The team had earlier recorded the statements of directors Shaji Kailas, Renji Panicker and producer Suresh Kumar, who had donated gold for the construction of the flag mast. The team had also registered the statement of Union Minister Suresh Gopi. The vigilance is recording the statements of 27 people who donated gold. The team has so far recorded the statements of 22 people who have donated gold.

The devaswom vigilance had earlier submitted a report to the high court stating that there was serious violation of rules in accepting gold for the construction of the new flag mast. The visuals of Suresh Gopi, Gokul Suresh, Sudheer Karamana Renji Panicker, Suresh Kumar and others attending the function had emerged earlier. However, the list submitted by former Advocate Commissioner ASP Kurup included only Suresh Gopi's name.

Suresh Gopi had given an explanation in this. He clarified that he himself had affixed the gold sheets on the Vaji Vahanam atop the flag mast. He also added that his son Gokul Suresh, director Shaji Kailas, and screenwriter Renji Panicker had together fixed gold on the Ashtadikpalaka idols.