Shouldn't Everyone Else Have Darshan?: Kerala HC Enquires On Incident Involving 'VIP Darshan' Of Actor Dileep At Sabarimala

In a report submitted by the Special Commissioner of Sabarimala and Additional District Magistrate Sabarimala, it was pointed out that the darshan of Dileep caused choking of queue in the first 2 rows.

“In so far as the first row is concerned, nobody was able to move, only because this person was standing there. Not only that, in the second-row pilgrims were throwing their offerings above their shoulders. Apart from that, shouldn't they have darshan?”, the Court orally observed.

A division bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. was informed on Friday about the issues caused by the VIP Darshan of the actor. The Court ordered the Travancore Devaswom Board to ensure that pilgrims have proper darshan and such incidents are not repeated.

As per the report of the Special Commissioner Sabarimala, Dileep was in front of the sopanam throughout harivarasanam till the closing of the temple at the end of the day.

The Devaswom Board will be submitting the CCTV footage of the incident before the Court. The Government pleader submitted before the Court that the Police Special Officer, Sopanam will file a report of the said incident on Monday.

The matter is next posted on December 9. 

Case Title: Suo Motu v State of Kerala

Case No: SSCR 79/ 2024