Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 10 -- A fresh controversy has erupted at the world famous Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple after the Special Commissioner informed the Kerala High Court that gold-plated sheets covering the Dwarapalaka sculptures were removed and transported to Chennai without the court's sanction.
In his report, Special Commissioner R. Jayakrishnan pointed out that the High Court had earlier directed that all gold-related works at the shrine must be undertaken at Sannidhanam under judicial supervision.
Any deviation, he noted, amounted to a "serious lapse." The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), however, maintained that no violation had occurred. TDB president P.S. Prashanth clarified that the copper sheets, coated with gold, had de...