The value of the treasure trove in the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple here swelled to Rs 1 lakh crore with the expert panel deputed by the Supreme Court completing the examination of five cellars.
The panel, led Justices Mr M.N. Krishnan and Mr C.S. Rajan, examined cellar E on Monday, where articles used for rituals and pujas were kept. They found golden conches (the emblem of Travancore), a pile of traditional sarapoli and manikya necklaces and host of other articles.
However, the panel deferred the examination of the secret cellar B the contents of which have not been seen for more than a century.
“We found three locks in the door two of which could be opened while the other could not be,” said the temple executive officer, Mr V.K. Harikumar. “We did not want to force it open.”
It is learnt that the panel will hold a discussion with engineers and technical experts on how to open the cellar without causing damage to the door.
Meanwhile, speculation is rife inthe capital on what cellar B might contain. While some say that it would hold more treasure than cellar A, old-timers say that it has only siver ingots. Others vouch that it leads to a tunnel.
At the same time, Justice Krishnan refused to speculate on the worth of the treasure found in the temple.
“We will inform the Supreme Court,” he told waiting mediapersons in the afternoon. “I have not said anything about crores. Please leave us alone.”