THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, INDIA, September 21, 2014 (Deccan Chronicle): The documentation of invaluable antiques in vaults A, C and D of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple has been completed. No major theft of temple treasures has been detected during the two-year inventorying and experts reckon the treasures to be worth more than the initial guesstimate of US$16.4 billion. There is no clue as to what is inside the mysterious B vault. When and whether it will be opened depends on the late Uthradom Tirunal’s prayer against opening it pending with the Supreme Court.
The next hearing in the apex court is on November 11. Tirunal was the last custodian of the Travancore royal family. The SC-appointed expert committee, led by archaeologist M.V. Nair, has packed and stored the hoard of gems, crowns, mounds of gold and silver coins and brass platters in 50 steel boxes, now preserved in the refurbished Vault A. Three archaeologists, 10 engineers and videographers and several gemologists toiled for nearly two years at a specially-erected enclosure between vaults B and C to itemize treasures and reconcile them with records preserved at the temple.