The much-anticipated wait for ‘treasure’ is finally over. Capping the mystery, the Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB) officials opened the newly-found secret vault and the locker at Sree Poornathrayeesa temple here on Wednesday.
Though it was expected that the vault and the closed locker contained unknown treasures of the erstwhile Cochin Royal Family, the CDB officials confirmed that the vault and locker were empty.
The inspection was conducted in the presence of a legal observer M C Madhavan, assigned by the Kerala High Court.
The official procedure to open the vault at the western gopuram started at 11.30 am. “It was found that the vault was separated by two portions. Nothing worthwhile was recovered from the upper and lower portions, except for a small amount of paddy,” said M C Madhavan. Thereafter, the officials opened the closed locker near the Devaswom Assistant Commissioner’s office at the temple. “The locker contained eight seals with one identified as conch shell seal used by the former devaswom officials. Also a 29-year-old newspaper piece was found. All articles will be enlisted to the personal property of the the Board,” Madhavan said.
Earlier, though the secret vault and closed locker was scheduled to be opened last June, it was delayed by the last Devaswom Board officials.
Thereafter, several people, including devotees demanded the opening of the newly-found vault and locker at the temple. “After the new officials took charge, they sought the High Court permission to open the vault and the locker.
Later, the court allotted a legal observer with the permission to open the vault,” said Devaswom officials. Devaswom Assistant Commissioner V V Salil Kumar, Devaswom official Rajan Thalepilli, Sree Poornathrayeesa Seva Sangam president Jayan Mangayil and Hill Palace Sub-Inspector P R Santhosh were also present on the occasion.