Sabarimala Gold Plating Report Controversy: Senior Travancore Devaswom Board Official Suspended

Thiruvananthapuram: A senior official of the Travancore Devaswom Board has been suspended in connection with the controversy surrounding the gold plating at Sabarimala. B. Murari Babu, who served as the Administrative Officer at Sabarimala at the time of the incident and currently holds the position of Deputy Devaswom Commissioner in Haripad, has been suspended pending inquiry.

The suspension stems from a serious lapse committed by Murari Babu on June 17, 2019, during his tenure as the Sabarimala Administrative Officer. He reportedly submitted a report to the Sabarimala Executive Officer incorrectly identifying the gold-plated ‘Dwarapalaka’ sculptures, situated on either side of the Sreekoil (sanctum sanctorum), as mere copper sheets.

Addressing the media, Murari Babu clarified his stance, stating that the sculptures were handed over for re-plating because the underlying copper had become visible. He explained that the process of removing the panels for plating in 2019 was carried out after inspection by officials, including those from the Thiruvarana Commissioner’s office. He further noted that he had transferred his charge in July 2019, around the time the physical removal and inspection were thoroughly conducted. His report, he maintained, indicated that the gold-plated items, where the gold had worn off to expose copper, were authorized for re-plating.

He elaborated on the gold plating process, mentioning that approximately one kilogram of gold was collectively used for plating various elements around the Sreekoil, including the pillars, ‘Dwarapalaka’ sculptures, conduits, and ‘Vedikas’. Due to the relatively small amount of gold used for the exterior plating, it eventually wore off. He suggested that only the roof might have been specifically gold-leafed to resist tarnishing, explaining its resilience against weather elements, unlike the plated sections. He affirmed that the conduits, pillars, and ‘Vedikas’ remain in place.

The Devaswom Vigilance unit, however, found that it was Murari Babu who issued the directive to record the panels as copper sheets when they were entrusted to Unnikrishnan Potti for gold plating in 2019. The vigilance report further indicates that he also requested the panels for re-plating in 2024, intensifying the scrutiny around his actions.