So far, Left and CPM leaders have been in trouble in connection with the Sabarimala gold loot. But, since both the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) have been alternating in Kerala power politics, the BJP has been stating that the role of Congress and UDF leaders in the scandal should also be probed. Now, there are reports that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) would interrogate Ajay Tarayil, a Congress leader and former Tiruvitamcoor Devaswom Board member, soon.
K. Raghavan, one of the former Board members and a CPM leader, told the media that the Vajivahanam was handed over to Tanthri Kantararu Rajeevaru without any documents. He said he was not present at the Board meeting which decided to hand over the same to the Tanthri. He said that the then Board president, Prayar Gopalakrishnan, and Board member Ajay Tarayil handed over the Vajivahanam to the Tanthri. Late Prayar Gopalakrishnan belonged to the Congress.
Vajivahanam means the ‘vehicle’ of Sabarimala Ayyappa; therefore, an idol of Vajivahana is installed on top of the flag mast in the temple premises. According to traditional thanthrasasthra, if there is damage or decay to the flag mast, it shall be replaced with a new one. But, if it is wooden, it should be burnt. If it is metal, it should be melted and given to the Acharya. Neither the Acharya nor the Thanthri shall accept the idols without any change in shape. There is a specific order that old articles shall be kept in the custody of the Devaswom Board. In other words, handing over the Vajivahanam to the Tanthri was a violation of the order.
There are reports that the Special Investigation Team is likely to investigate the gold loot engineered in the name of the renovation of the flag mast and the handing over of the Vajivahanam to the Tanthri. If it happens, the then Devaswom Board members, including Ajay Tarayil, will be included in the list of the accused. The Devaswom Board Commissioner had issued an order on September 17, 2012, stating that old artefacts of the temple should be kept as Devaswom assets. None has the right to take them home. This order was issued in accordance with the concurrence of the Devaswom Board.
According to reports, the then Devaswom President, Prayar Gopalakrishnan, and member Ajay Tarayil handed over the Vajivahanam to the Tanthri in 2017, in violation of the 2012 letter. The 11 kg Panchaloha (made of five metals, viz., gold, silver, copper, iron, and zinc) Vajivahanam, covered with pure gold, was seized from the residence of Tanthri Kantararu Rajeevaru during the raid. Phoenix Group in Andhra Pradesh had sponsored the gold for the new flag mast. Gold belonging to no one else had been used for it.
Since the Devaswom did not spend any amount, an audit was not carried out. Despite ₹3.22 crore being spent by the Phoenix Group, huge fund collection was carried out for the renovation of the flag mast. The SIT has reportedly gathered that ₹2.5 crore had been collected from several people, including film personalities. Murtis of Ashtadikpalakas on the flag mast, Alila murti, and gold-plated measuring vessels called paras (used to measure grains) are missing. There is no clue as to the gold that was used to cover the flag mast. The SIT has reportedly found that the stock register for the period of the replacement of the flag mast had been burnt.
Stories being unfolded day by day speak volumes about the loot. They vindicate the BJP’s allegations that both the LDF and UDF have played their respective roles in the fraud. Again, the latest loot news vindicates the argument that the Devaswom and temple management should be liberated from the clutches of politicians. Recently, K. P. Sankaradas was arrested, that too on a Makaravilakku day, the most auspicious day for Sabarimala. Sankaradas, who was likely to be the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold loot case, had been evading arrest due to illness and consequent hospitalisation.
At the same time, many people had been assuming that Sankaradas was taking advantage of his son’s status as a senior IPS officer. Harisankar, IPS, is now the Kochi City Police Commissioner with the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police. Sankaradas is a CPM loyalist and a former member of the Tiruvitamcoor Devaswom Board. He was arrested from a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, where he had been undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit. The SIT and the magistrate reached the hospital to arrest him. The police team, led by S. P. Sasidharan, carried out the arrest procedures.
On January 13, the Kerala High Court had asked the SIT, why they had not arrested Sankaradas. He had been hospitalised from the same day he was included in the list of the accused. The High Court asked whether Sankaradas was spared due to his IPS officer son. The Court wondered what nonsense was taking place in the State and said it could not agree to it. The Court was hearing various bail applications in connection with the gold loot.
Later, the SIT tried to explain before the Court that Sankaradas was undergoing treatment for a paralytic stroke. The Court had assigned a Special Investigation Team to ascertain whether his illness was genuine. Harisankar was alleged to have taken the initiative for the Sabarimala temple entry of the ‘undesired women’ when the issue of temple entry of young women was a hot topic during late 2018 and early 2019. Sankaradas was a Devaswom Board member during those days.
