The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to examine the source and antiquity of the treasure unearthed from the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram.
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.
