Sabarimala Gold Case: SIT Probe Extended

The Kerala High Court was told on Monday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) looking into the Sabarimala gold heist case that it is also looking into transactions involving the replating of temple artifacts that took place in 2025.

Additional Time Granted to SIT

In an interim judgment, a division bench consisting of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar gave the SIT an additional six weeks to finish the inquiry.

The court established the SIT to investigate the purported theft of gold from the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) at Sabarimala and the gold-clad copper plates of the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) statues. When the court examined the investigation’s progress on Monday, the SIT provided a status report.

Stages of the Sreekovil Gold Heist Investigation

In court were ADGP H Venkatesh, the head of the SIT, S Sasidharan, the investigation officer, and the Travancore Devaswom Board vigilance officer. The SIT report said that the inquiry had been split into four stages, according to the court’s interim order.

The gold-cladding of different ornaments and artifacts in and around the Sreekovil constitutes the first step. In 2019, the second step included installing a new gold-plated door in place of the Sreekovil’s previous gold-clad door.

Gold Theft and Replating Transactions

The removal of gold-clad Dwarapalaka idol plates, side plates, and door frame plates in 2019 is the subject of the third phase.

The court said, “The fourth phase encompasses all transactions connected to the gold plating of the Dwarapalaka idol plates in 2025.” The court noted that in two cases filed in relation to the event, the SIT had already questioned 181 witnesses.

Tracking and Examination of Gold Assets

It said that significant attempts are being made to determine how and where the gold-clad plates were taken. The decision said, “Clinching data relevant to the gold cladding carried out by the UB Group in 1998 have been received.”

The SIT said that assets that are out of proportion to the accused’s known sources of income are under investigation. The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre is conducting scientific examinations on samples taken from the original plates at Sannidhanam.

Evidence Collection and Investigation Progress

The court said that the results of these tests are very important because they would probably reveal how the people in charge of the deity’s assets were able to covertly remove, replace, or misappropriate gold via a planned and coordinated scheme.

The court concluded that the inquiry was being carried out in a comprehensive and competent way after looking over the report. It said, “The team has been able to track and collect important documentation evidence, despite efforts by some individuals to hide documents relevant to the transactions under review.”

Team Augmentation and Future Reporting

The court said that the addition of two more officers to the SIT conformed with its December 30 decision and that, given the scope of the job, more team augmentation may be allowed after the filing of a report.

“We believe it is fair to provide the inquiry Team more time to complete the inquiry due to the volume of documents involved and the complexity of the investigation. As a result, the probe will take an additional six weeks to finish, the bench said. On January 19, the court ordered the SIT to provide an additional report.

Conclusion

The SIT investigation into the Sabarimala gold theft 2025 demonstrates a meticulous and phased approach, highlighting the complexity of temple artifact thefts and the importance of comprehensive forensic and document-based investigations.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult qualified professionals for guidance on matters related to temple asset investigations or legal proceedings.