TDB president P.S. Prasanth sees error in entrusting Sabarimala artefacts to non-public particular person for restore in 2019

Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president P.S. Prasanth on Saturday (October 4, 2025) appeared to counsel that the board authorities might need erred in 2019 by entrusting the Sabarimala temple panels for restore to Unnikrishnan Potty, a former temple helper at present on the centre of the controversy regarding the alleged “misappropriation” of useful non secular artefacts from the Ayyappa temple. 

Mr. Prasanth advised reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that the Chennai-based agency, which the TDB had contracted for restoring the gold-plated copper overlays protecting the traditional stone carvings and sculptures on the temple in 2019, had issued a 40-year guarantee in Mr. Potty’s title. 

“Instead of the TDB, the warrantor named the supposed sponsor, Mr. Potty, as the unique purchaser within the 2019 upkeep contract”, he mentioned. 

Mr. Prasanth mentioned the TDB was constrained to hunt Mr. Potty’s assist, on condition that the restoration agency had issued the guarantee in his title, once more in 2025, to restore the copper-gold protecting of the 2 stone sculptures flanking the doorway to the Sabarimala temple’s sanctum sanctorum. 

“The TDB despatched a letter summoning him to the workshop in Chennai. The 12 gold-copper panels protecting the dwarapalaka sculptures have been transported to Chennai in a extremely secured car with police escort. The Sabarimala Thiruvabharanam Commissioner travelled in the identical car”, he added. 

(Earlier, the TDB had come underneath criticism for entrusting the panels to Mr. Potty for restore, who had allegedly used a small van for transporting the objects in 2019)

Mr. Prasanth mentioned the TDB would switch the guarantee from Mr. Potty to the board’s title, with the High Court’s permission. 

Mr. Prasanth mentioned the TDB had video-recorded the removing of the gold coverings within the presence of unbiased authorities witnesses to make sure transparency and accountability.

Mr. Prasanth additionally dispelled the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF)‘s accusation that 4 kg of gold have been lacking from the sculpture coverings, which he claimed “had no foundation in actuality.”

“The 14 panels that make up the protecting weigh 38 kg. The whole weight of gold within the alloy is a meagre 397 grams. The TDB dispatched 12 panels for refurbishment. After restoration in Chennai, the load of gold within the panels has elevated by 10 grams. The TDB had donated the additional gold”, he mentioned. 

Mr. Prasanth admitted that the TDB “erred minimally” in not having knowledgeable the High Court-appointed Sabarimala Special Commissioner prematurely concerning the removing of the plates for overhaul. “The High Court has pardoned the overlook. It has allowed the TDB to reinstall the protecting with the Chief Priest’s sanction on October 27. The restored coverings are at present within the temple’s strongroom”, he added.