Malappurram, Feb 14 (NationPress) In a pointed rebuke of the Kerala government, V. D. Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, asserted on Saturday that the previous year's Global Ayyappa Meet at Pampa was nothing short of "an extension of the Sabarimala gold fraud," demanding an in-depth investigation into what he labeled a multi-crore scam.

Satheesan stated that despite the High Court's repeated orders for maintaining transparent financial records, significant discrepancies had emerged regarding the event's organization near Sabarimala.

"Upon the revelation of the scam, Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan sought to distance himself from it. Those who displayed massive flex boards featuring the Chief Minister and engaged in widespread public relations to gain political advantage from the Ayyappa meet have since vanished," he noted.

The Opposition leader alleged that funds were misappropriated under the guise of offering food and lodging to fictitious participants.

"Were all attendees accommodated in luxury hotels? Was gourmet food provided?" he questioned, challenging the inflated invoices, including charges for entertainment.

He emphasized that the government could not escape accountability, given that the Devaswom Board operates under its jurisdiction, and its president and members are government appointees.

Satheesan pointed out that the financial statements presented in the Assembly by Minister K. Radhakrishnan were inconsistent with those submitted to the High Court.

He referenced court remarks highlighting irregularities, such as the absence of tenders for construction projects, unexplained cabling expenses, missing beds from the 180 listed, unaccounted GST issues, and sponsorship revenues lacking proper documentation.

"The High Court acknowledged that the accounts do not match. Misleading statements were submitted to confuse the court," he alleged.

He also critiqued the overt political branding of the event, stating that flex boards showcased images of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan larger than those of Lord Ayyappa.

"If the government bears no responsibility, why was it promoted as a flagship initiative?" he questioned, adding that the event appeared to be designed for political gain from devotees' sentiments.

Connecting the controversy to previous accusations of gold theft at Sabarimala in 2019 and 2024, Satheesan insisted that those accountable must face the law.

"Every rupee collected in Lord Ayyappa's name must be accounted for," he stated, expressing confidence that the High Court will mandate a thorough investigation into the alleged fraud.