The Vigilatory Wing of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is reportedly ready to question Unnikrishhnan Potti, who appeared as a central character in controversy surrounding the alleged “theft and subsequent recovery” of golden copper plates listed as offers that obscure complex works of works of art.
Mr. Potti told reporters that he would fully cooperate with TDB investigation. However, he refused to say whether TDB issued him a notice or planned the date of his questioning. He said he had been the victim of a media witch hunting and was innocent against him.
Mr. Potti caused controversy by saying that the metal overlap of the golden hill for decorating the stone pedestals of two mythological figures lining the entrance to the shrine of the temple of Ayyapp has disappeared since 2019.
Soon Mr. Potti, who claimed to offer coverage, found himself in the eye of a storm after TDB wakeful gained “stolen gilded plates” from his sister’s house in Thiruvananthapurama.
Subsequently, the High Court ordered the units of the units to investigate the repair and maintenance of plates from the copper gold alloy that surrounds the outer side of the shrine of the temple of Ayyapp, after an internal audit that revealed a significant loss of gold coverage, estimated at 4 kg since 1999.
The High Court also ordered the investigation of the removal of the golden coverage from the temple and their subsequent sending to Chennai for repair, without the prior sanctions of the Judicial Special Commissioner.
President TDB PSANTH told reporters that TDB officials have committed a mistake in obtaining assistance to mediars for the repair of gold plates outside the temple districts. He said that Wigilance Wing TDB would cover the golden emergence of the Baron Vijay temple in 1999 for the current period.
Devaswom Minister Vasavan said some “Stin Mediators” who seemed to have a free hand in the temple, among other things, gathered a large amount of money from the devotees, falsely promising offers at Ayyapp and make Darshany easier.
UDF Convemer Adoor Prakash demanded a CBI probe to the “theft of the temple”. The opposition leader VD Satheesan said two consecutive governments of Pinaraya Vijayan made it easier for pilgrim lakes in Sabarimale.
Published – October 2, 2025 20:08
