769 gold pots missing from Kerala temple vaults, SC told

[ranjeet]

A report submitted by the former Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, Vinod Rai, in the Supreme Court shows that 769 gold pots, valued approximately at Rs. 186 crore, are missing from the vast treasures found in the vaults of Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple in Kerala.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur is scheduled to shortly hear Mr. Rai, who said the disappearance of the gold pots weighing 776 kg needed a “detailed probe.”

Serial number

In his report, Mr. Rai said each gold pot was assigned a separate serial number. Gold pots bearing numbers from one to 1,000 were used till July 2002.

Thereafter, pots bearing numbers from 1,000 were used. One of the pots, Mr. Rai found, taken out on April 1, 2011 showed the serial number ‘1988’. “This means that there were at least 1988 gold pots available in various kallaras,” the report said.

It said that if 822 gold pots were melted to meet the requirements of gold for ornamental works, there should have been at least 1,166 gold pots left.But the report said gold pots featuring serial numbers till only 397 could be found.

“This would indicate that the total number of gold pots excluding the gold pots if any in B kallaras were only 397 ... There is a shortage of 769 gold pots with an aggregate of 776 kg [approximately valued at Rs. 186 crore] would require a detailed probe,” Mr. Rai said.

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

The report further stated that photographs were taken of 1,022 precious articles, including the 397 gold pots, lying in C and E kallaras in August 2007, on the suggestion of the then Trustee for an album of the treasure.

But there was no sign of album or the photographs or the negatives.

The report said the administrative committee of the temple was “weak” and suggested a revamp.

Mr. Rai suggested appointment of a new committee led by a retired All India Service Officer with a rank of Secretary to Government. The panel should have one representative each from the Travancore royal family and from the Revenue Department of Kerala.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ults-sc-told/article8989004.ece?homepage=true

 

[Star Wars]

won't be surprised if half of the treasury worth Billions have been looted...

 

[punit]

gods own country !!

 

[Imran Khan]

These days are very expencives even god have to steal from own temple to survive

 

[endyashainin]

Search the Gandhi residence, and you will find your missing gold.

 

[sherin616]

Should start high security museum with all this gold V. S. Achuthanandan said it

 

[somebozo]

apparently..god is not watching..

 

[Marxist]

First claim treasure is not safe in temple ,then paint custodians Royal family as thieves This story may be part of plot to take over Gold from temple vaults

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Rumours circulated that when gold was found in vaults, immediately before government interference, much was looted in a whisker. The government was late to provide protection to the gold, and resulted in theft. Its time the Gold is taken out, and kept somewhere safe within the temple premises. What to do with the treasure is the prerogative of the erstwhile king and temple association.

 

[Marxist]

Rumours circulated that when gold was found in vaults, immediately before government interference, much was looted in a whisker. The government was late to provide protection to the gold, and resulted in theft. Its time the Gold is taken out, and kept somewhere safe within the temple premises. What to do with the treasure is the prerogative of the erstwhile king and temple association.

This was not a hidden treasure to lost and found ,those associated with temple are fully aware of its presence so these rumors are not true ...

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

This was not a hidden treasure to lost and found ,those associated with temple are fully aware of its presence so these rumors are not true ...

I know.. Even Maharaja tried to use it for a budget during British era. But he was unable to open the vault in question. No one expected such amount of treasure. Or else the British would have looted it too