Pathanamthitta: A detailed probe on irregularities in gold offerings at Sabarimala temple was conducted by the state audit department and it was found that there were no irregularities in the gold offerings in the temple.

Kerala Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran had sought clarification from the Travancore Devaswom Board following allegations of irregularities in gold in Kerala's Ayyappa temple situated in Pathanamthitta. 

Earlier it was reported that the department has found that the temple authorities had shifted the gold and silver from the strong room without valid proof. Many complaints regarding this issue were received from various persons by the Devaswom vigilance and regarding this, the concerned department decided to carry out a detailed inspection by opening the strong room of the Sabarimala temple.

It has been observed that the Devaswom vigilance had reported that the temple authorities did not have a detailed report about the gold and silver kept in the strong room. The gold and silver received as the offerings were held in the strong room of the Travancore Devaswom board near Aranmula temple, Pathanamthitta.

Officials under assistant accounts officers are in charge of the strong room. Three officials are necessary to be in attendance while opening the strong room. Travancore Devaswom board president A Padmakumar had said, “The former officers handling the duty of the strong room management were inefficient in the duty.”

He also rejected the report, which suggests there is a decrease in the quantity of the gold from the strong room. The records of the gold and silver in the strong room should be handed over to a new officer taking charge. But this procedure was not followed in the past six years. 

Even a complaint was lodged in this regard in the high court of Kerala. Following this, the concerned department checked the strong room of the Travancore Devaswom board in Pathanamthitta.