Re-construction of Sabarimala flag mast; Statements of 19 recorded, Suresh Gopi's statement not taken

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The vigilance recorded the statements of those who donated for the reconstruction of the flag mast in Sabarimala. The statements of 19 people who donated gold were recorded. Union Minister Suresh Gopi's statement was not recorded due to his busy office schedule. Suresh Gopi told the vigilance that he would inform after February 22.

Film director Shaji Kailas, scriptwriter Renji Panicker and producer Suresh Kumar had given statements to the vigilance earlier. They stated that they donated gold coins. The gold was handed over to ASP Kurup, who was the advocate commissioner. They also revealed the amount of gold donated. Out of the total 9573 grams of gold required for the re-installation of the flag mast, 412.010 grams were donations from 27 devotees. All these were accepted under the leadership of Kurup.

The devaswom vigilance had earlier filed a report in the high court stating that there was a serious violation of rules in accepting gold in the reconstruction of the flag mast in 2017. Visuals of Suresh Gopi, Gokul Suresh, Sudheer Karamana, Renji Panicker, Suresh Kumar and others participating in the ritual had emerged. However, the list submitted by former advocate commissioner ASP Kurup included only Suresh Gopi's name.

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