Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Jayamala's claim: Crime Branch probe sought

Special Correspondent

As the actor refused to cooperate with Travancore Devaswom Board probe

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board has sought a Crime Branch inquiry into the controversy surrounding the alleged entry of Kannada actor Jayamala into the sanctum sanctorum of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple.

The board, which met here on Friday afternoon, decided to urge the Government to order a Crime Branch probe since the actor refused to cooperate with its Vigilance wing, which had begun a preliminary inquiry. The board will make a formal request to Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran to order the probe.

Board president G. Raman Nair and members told mediapersons that Ms. Jayamala refused to meet the team led by Vigilance and Security Officer P.G. Ashok Kumar and demanded a questionnaire before making any statement.

She also said that the board should have intimated her before trying to record her statement. The board decided not to comply with her demands and it was felt that only a Crime Branch probe could reveal whether there was a conspiracy to tarnish the image of the temple. "The board will make a formal request to the Government to order the probe," he said.

The meeting decided to conduct the atonement rituals as suggested by astrologer Parappanangadi Unnkrishna Panicker, who conducted the `Devaprasnom'.

"The rituals, which are expected to cost Rs.5 lakhs, will begin from the Guruvayur temple this month-end and will be completed within two years. The board will bear the expenses of the rituals."

The `Devaprasnom' was conducted in a transparent manner and all questions posed by the faithful, including members of the Pandalam royal family, were answered.

The board had asked the astrologer whether a ropeway could be constructed at Sabarimala to transport goods, to which he had given the nod provided devotees sponsored the project. The board had decided to construct the ropeway using contributions from devotees.

Asked about the differences of opinion over the `Devaprasnom', Mr. Nair said that the tantri (chief priest) was well within his right to air his views. Regarding the interim stay on the board decision to grant 33 per cent reservation in appointments, Mr. Nair said that the court had not ordered a stop on appointments but had only ruled that a decision could be made only after the final ruling. Board members Punalur Madhu and M.B. Sreekumar were also present.

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