Kochi, Oct. 3 -- The controversy surrounding the gold-plating of sacred artefacts at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple took a serious turn, with the Kerala High Court ordering a judicial probe into alleged discrepancies and missing valuables under the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).
What began in 2019 as a restoration project of the temple's Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and their pedestals has now snowballed into a major scandal, raising concerns over accountability and transparency in the handling of devotees' offerings.
According to official records, gold-clad copper plates weighing 42.8 kg were handed over to Chennai-based firm Smart Creations for refurbishment. However, when the artefacts were returned, the weight stood at 38....