The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to examine the source and antiquity of the treasure unearthed from the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Devotees walk up the stairs leading to the 16th century Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Inside the temple, investigators were counting the staggering hoard of gold coins and statues of gods and goddesses studded with diamonds and other precious stones.
An apex court bench of justice R V Raveendran and justice A K Patnaik asked the ASI to suggest the steps that can be taken to protect the treasure and also where it can be housed.
Treasure estimated at over Rs. 1 lakh crore has been found in five of the six chambers of the 16th century temple that have been opened so far on the instructions of the Supreme Court after a local lawyer alleged poor security and mismanagement by the trust that runs the temple.