Potty had vice-like grip over Sabarimala

The Devaswom Vigilance report into the Sabarimala gold-plating matter depicts Unnikrishnan Potty as wielding nearly absolute control over temple affairs, alleging he orchestrated the handover of protected artefacts under misleading records while not even being physically present at the shrine.

- HD Bureau

The report indicates that gold-clad panels, officially recorded as copper in temple mahazars, were transferred to Potty—and, in 2019, Devaswom officials were made to surrender protected items to unidentified persons.

Investigators assert those handovers occurred despite Potty’s absence from Sabarimala on that day, undermining claims of procedural legitimacy.