Kollam (Kerala), February 11 Union Minister Suresh Gopi appeared to support the TDB members on Wednesday, when the older flag mast at Sabarimala was replaced with a new one, saying that the gold contributed by him and other devotees was meticulously recorded by them.
Gopi's statement gains relevance as the Kerala High Court ordered an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of gold and money in connection with the installation of a new temple flag mast at the Sabarimala shrine in 2017.
The High Court, in its order, stated that receipts were not issued to many of those who had contributed gold for covering the flag mast and the ceremonial vehicle (vaji vahanam) on top of it.
In what appeared to be a defense of the then Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) members, Gopi said that the gold given by him and various devotees was "meticulously recorded".
The minister said that it was all carried out in a very "religious atmosphere" in the presence of Congress leaders Prayar Gopalakrishnan as TDB president and Ajay Tharayil as a board member.
He also said that he did not ask for a receipt, as it was given as a donation to God.
Gopi said that the gold was then beaten into sheets there itself and handed over to him and other devotees who themselves placed it on the flag mast and ceremonial vehicle.
"A receipt may have been given, I do not recall. But, why is politics being involved in such contributions by devotees? Why are attempts being made to involve everyone based on politics?"
"I cannot stand with attempts to harm them like this. Let the police and the courts investigate," the Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism asked, while speaking to reporters here at a press meet on the benefits of the Union Budget 2026-27.
Gopi said that the decision to change the flag mast was taken due to a 'devaprasnam' and not because of some termite infestation as reported in some channels.
'Devaprasnam' is a traditional Kerala temple ritual used to divine the will of the deity and identify causes of problems and required remedies.
Gopi further said that the work was carried out in the presence of an advocate commissioner appointed by the Kerala High Court.
He said that he contributed gold for that as he wanted his future generations to be able to claim some connection with the temple and its flag mast.
He said that he got the gold coins he had converted to 24 carat and donated it to the temple.
"When others heard what I was doing, many of them, including Mohanlal, also contributed varying amounts of gold," he said.
