A 2012 order from the Travancore Devaswom Board Commissioner has come to light, sparking concerns amid the Sabarimala gold heist investigation. The order is linked to the 2017 transfer of the temple’s ‘Vajivahanam’ to the arrested tantri, Kantarar Rajeevar, who is currently in judicial custody. The Vajivahanam is a decorative structure coated with gold placed on the temple flag post.
The transfer of the Vajivahanam to Rajeevar in 2017 by the then Board, led by former Congress MLA Prayar Gopalakrishnan, has gained attention. The structure was later found at the tantri’s residence during a raid by the Special Investigation Team following his arrest. Rajeevar, now the 13th accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, was apprehended on January 10.
The 2017 decision has gained significance as Rajeevar faces accusations in two charge sheets filed by the Special Investigation Team. Investigators are now assessing whether the transfer breached temple asset regulations. Congress leader Ajay Tharayil, who was part of the Board at the time, defended the decision, stating it adhered to established procedures.
Supporting the decision, P.N.D. Nampoothiri, president of Yogakshema Sabha, emphasized that the handover was in line with traditional practices. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V.D. Satheesan, called for scrutiny of Sabarimala events over the past 50 years but cautioned against linking the Vajivahanam issue with the ongoing gold heist probe.
The 2012 order by the TDB Commissioner prohibits individuals from claiming items used in temple rituals and other Devaswom properties. It also mandates the preservation of replaced objects as public property when new items are installed. The 2017 transfer occurred under this directive, posing a legal challenge for the former Board and its administrative committee as investigations progress.
