'Rituals on gold pedestal at home, extorted money from devotees'; More details emerge in Sabarimala gold pedestal controversy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is reported that the sponsor and Bengaluru businessman Unnikrishnan Potty is suspected of not just hiding the pedestals and gold plating of the Dwarpalaka sculpture of the Sabarimala temple but also making financial gains out of it. Vigilance received information that he performed rituals on the gold pedestal kept at home and extorted money from Ayyappa devotees.

The Devaswom Vigilance Department on Saturday recovered the pedestal made of gold and other ornaments from the house of Unnikrishnan Potty's sister, Mini Antharjanam, in Venjaramoodu. After bringing the pedestal from Sabarimala, it was kept at the house of Unnikrishnan's employee in Kottayam. The Vigilance received information that the pedestal was kept there until the controversy broke out.

Information was received that special rituals were held there in connection with the golden pedestal, and financial transactions were made. Vigilance clarified that the financial gains were made with the knowledge of Unnikrishnan. The money was received after convincing Ayyapaa devotees that the rituals were connected with the Sabarimala temple.

Vigilance is now left puzzled as it was Unnikrishnan Potty who filed a complaint first about the missing pedestals, despite the same being with him. While responding to the media, Unnikrishnan said that he had offered two gold plates along with the pedestals to the Sabarimala temple, but the Devaswom board kept them aside as the size was deemed unfit. It was later that Unnikrishnan filed a complaint with the police.