Mystery in Unnikrishnan Potty's statement, confusion in Mahasar, say officials 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The devaswom vigilance said that there is a mystery in the statement given by the main sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty in the gold plating controversy. It is concluded that there was a collusion between the sponsor and devaswom officials in the incident. The devaswom vigilance has also concluded that there is a lapse from the side of the officials. The devaswom vigilance will submit a report in the high court on Thursday, seeking a detailed investigation into the incident.

Meantime, the officials have given their statement that there was a misunderstanding in Mahasar in 2019. According to the statement given by the officials of the gold and jeweler section, the fact that copper was written in Mahasar could have been a misunderstanding. The weight loss in the gold plating was not reported in the Mahasar. A scientific test will be required on the gold plating. This is to know whether the plating that was taken away is the one brought back by Potty.

Neither the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, the official custodian of the precious treasures of the Sabarimala temple, nor the devaswom smith, who is supposed to certify their quality and quantity, nor the vigilance officer, who is supposed to monitor the procedures, signed the 2019 Mahasar. The quantity, weight and value of the gold and copper used to coat the copper plates are not mentioned in the Mahasar.

The Mahasar prepared by executive officer V S Rajendra Prasad was signed by twelve including him. The plates were returned on September 11, 2019 and fixed on the Dwarapalaka idols.

In the Mahasar dated July 19 and 20, 2019, it is said that the sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty was entrusted with the task of gold plating the copper plates and the copper plates covering the north and south walls of the shrine.

It was taken on July 20. On August 29, the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner visited the Smart Creation Company in Chennai and recorded that 14 parts of the sheets were handed over to Unnikrishnan Potty in the Mahasar prepared there. This is how it was found that there was a delay of 39 days. When the Mahasar was released, it became clear that the things were done with the consent of the devaswom board president and members.

Those signed in the maharsar are
Tantri Kandararu Mahesh Mohanar, Melshanthi V N Vasudevan Namboothiri, duty guards R Somasekharan Nair, P S Kannan, watchers C Suresh Babu, S Divakaran, Sabarimala Maramath Third Grade Overseer Varun Karunakaran, head accountant R Sankaranarayanan, sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty, administrative officer S Sreekumar and executive officer V S Rajendra Prasad.