Sabarimala gold heist: Kerala HC allows SIT to collect additional samples

Kochi: High court on Monday granted permission to the special investigation team (SIT) probing the alleged gold heist at the Sabarimala temple to collect additional samples from the Prabhamandalam plates and the upper door-frame plate of the sreekovil by dismantling them with the assistance of experts and forwarding the samples to a laboratory for analysis.

A bench of Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar observed that only then could the truth of the matter be fully and conclusively ascertained. HC was considering a suo motu case initiated based on a report submitted by the Sabarimala special commissioner regarding the alleged gold heist at the temple.

During hearing, the investigating officer, S Sasidharan, appeared in person and submitted a progress report on the ongoing investigation. The report stated that the Prabhamandalam plates and the upper door-frame plate of the sreekovil could not be dismantled and examined due to difficulties raised by the skilled workers engaged for the task. It was also stated that objections had been raised from various quarters.

According to SIT, dismantling the artefacts with the assistance of experts and collecting samples from them are indispensable for ascertaining their actual weight. Only thereafter can the precise quantity of gold cladding on the artefacts be accurately determined. The officer, therefore, sought permission for the SIT to dismantle the Prabhamandalam plates and the upper door-frame plate and collect samples from them with expert assistance. HC accordingly granted the request.

Referring to a report submitted by the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, which conducted scientific tests to analyse the loss of gold from the temple, HC observed that the findings would go a long way in identifying the manner in which the alleged pilferage of gold had been carried out at Sannidhanam. The court further noted that in 2019, Smart Creations, Chennai, to which the gold-clad copper plates had been entrusted for gold plating, had stripped the gold cladding from the artefacts using a chemical known as “stripping salt”, procured from Mumbai. A sample of the stripping salt had been collected and forwarded to the National Metallurgical Laboratory for scientific analysis, the results of which are awaited.

SIT also informed HC that the investigation into the removal and disposal of the coverings of the dwarapalakas in 2025 had reached its final stages and requested that the matter be posted on June 18. It was further submitted that the final report could be filed without further delay. HC accordingly adjourned the matter to June 18.