UDF Governing Body in trouble for handing over devaswom property to Tantri, bypassing official order

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, who was arrested in the Sabarimala gold theft case, is in more trouble. The order that surfaced hinting that many things including the Vaji Vahanam, does not belong to the Tantri, is turning vital in the case. This order was issued by N Vasu, who was the board commissioner in 2012. This has been circulated to all offices.

The order says that while installing a new one, the old items should be kept as the common property of the temple. The order clarifies that the old one will be the property of the devaswom itself. The Vaji Vahanam, which was on the flagpole, was handed over to Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru by the then devaswom board president and Congress leader Prayar Gopalakrishnan and board member Ajay Tharayil, when the order stands. Devaswom officials are also witnesses to this.

The Vaji Vahanam is plated with pure gold made in five metals. The old one was replaced in February 2017, citing that the base of the flagpole had rotted. The Vaji Vahanam seized during the raid at Tantri Kantharar Rajeevaru's house has been produced in the court by the SIT.

Meantime, Ajay Tharayil responded that the Vaji Vahanam was handed over to the Tantri as per the Tantric ruling and that he was unaware of the order. The Tantric ruling states that if the abandoned idols are metal, they should be given to the tantri (main person). There is no need for an order for this. There are traditions and rituals that are followed in temples. Ajay Tharayil said that in many temples, Tantris have taken Vaji Vahanams in this way.