Sabarimala gold plating row: Sponsor denies wrongdoing

Addressing reporters, TDB President P S Prasanth accused opposition parties of "exploiting" the controversy as a golden opportunity to target the Board.

“The High Court will be requested to conduct a thorough probe into the alleged decrease in gold at Sabarimala since 1998, when industrialist Vijay Mallya sponsored the plating of the sanctum sanctorum, and into allegations of misuse by certain individuals in the name of sponsorship,” he said.

Prasanth said the widespread support for the recent Global Ayyappa Sangamam had triggered “fake allegations” against Sabarimala.