8 Diamonds Missing From Padmanabha Swamy Temple: Amicus Tells SC [Read Report]

Ten months after a special audit report by Vinod Rai committee revealed that Gold worth Rs 186 crores has mysteriously gone missing from Kerala's Sree Padmanabha swamy temple, now the amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam’s report says that eight diamonds are also missing from the famous temple.

A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar will hear the amicus curiae’s report tomorrow. The Padmanabha swamy temple matter is the first case the CJI led bench will hear after the apex court resumes after the summer break tomorrow.

“The Amicus Curiae notes with some regret that eight diamonds which are a part of the Namam (tilakam) of the Lord have been reported as missing. The Amicus Curiae requested the original registers be produced before him. Upon inspection of the records, the Amicus Curiae was distressed to note that the expression ‘damaged’ (used euphemistically), is truly intended to convey ‘missing’. The valuation of the diamonds is one reflected in registers from at least 70-80 years ago. As a consequence of the same, the true value of any of these items is not reflected in the Mudalpadi’s register”, says the latest report submitted by the amicus curiae on June 14.

“It is also clear that the system of record-keeping in the Mudalpadi’s register (even though in Malayalam) needs to be altered. To this effect, it is necessary that the District Judge and the new Executive Officer may make suitable recommendations for a format which would correctly reflect the status and valuation of the ornaments which are being handled exclusively by the Nambis”, it said.

A special audit report by Rai panel on temple management stated that there was a loss of 263 kg gold on the name of purification and gold worth 186 crore in the form of 769 gold pots were not traceable.

The report said 30 per cent of the gold sent for melting and purification was lost.

Rai in his report has recommended to constitute a committee to oversee irregularities in the temple.

In 2015, the Supreme Court had asked Rai to do an audit of the temple and submit its report.

This directive came on the recommendations of amicus curiae and senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam, who had sought overhauling of the functioning of the temple.

“POND CLEANED”

The amicus curiae report also said the pond of the historic temple had been cleaned up

The apex court had in April asked Kerala Water Authority to clean up the pond in two months

The bench had then also considered the submission of Subramaniamthat besides cleaning the water tanks, there was a need to take measures to stop sewage and construction debris from flowing into them.

“The Amicus Curiae notes that on account of the intervention of this Hon’ble Court, the pond is now ready for reuse. The cleaning work has been completed. This augurs well for the Temple. The Amicus is extremely happy to record that the work of renovation of the Mitranandapuram tank has been completed to perfection”, said Subramaniam’s report.