SIT demands vigilance probe into gold plating at Sabarimala during P S Prasanth's time

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The special investigation team has demanded a vigilance probe into the gold plating at Sabarimala during the time of P S Prasanth, who was serving as the president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). The vigilance probe has been recommended in the report submitted to the Kerala High Court.

However, the SIT report says that there was no loss of gold and that there was a lapse in procedures, which is why a vigilance probe should be conducted. The high court will take a decision on this matter after the results of the test conducted at the Jamshedpur lab comes. The recommendation for a vigilance probe will be made only after it is confirmed that there was no loss of gold. Once the results of the test conducted at the Jamshedpur lab are received, it will be clear whether there was any loss of gold and if so, how much was lost.

Meanwhile, the High Court yesterday expressed doubts that there was irregularity in the long-term assignment of Sunil Swami alias Sunil Kumar, a native of Kollam, to purchase items for the Ashtabhishek Pooja in Sabarimala and to deliver funds for the daily pooja.

The court also criticized the purchase of pooja items without following the norms. It also asked the board to explain the situation in which permission was given to distribute the items to Sunil Swami. The Devaswom bench comprising Justice V Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K V Jayakumar sought a report from the Travancore Devaswom Board. The action was taken after considering the report submitted by the special commissioner alleging misuse of funds and the preliminary investigation report of the Devaswom Vigilance.

Sunil Swami has been donating more than ten items including rice, malar, jaggery, coconut, silk, for the pooja for years. He donates items worth Rs 3 lakh for the monthly pooja and Rs 18 lakh during the Mandala period. The vigilance report states that no bills or vouchers are issued, no records are kept in the register, and no tender process is conducted. The goods are kept in a room next to the administrator's office. The vigilance alleges that all this is to pave the way for corruption. There are also complaints that officials are accepting money by showing that the goods were purchased from the Devaswom fund even when they are received as donations. The report also states that no clarity has been obtained since auditing has not been done for the last 10 years.