Sabarimala gold heist: Kerala HC tells probe team to file comprehensive report by June 29

Kochi: High court has directed the SIT probing the alleged gold heist at the Sabarimala temple to file, by June 29, a comprehensive report detailing the involvement of the accused persons in the removal and disposal of the coverings of the dwarapalakas in 2025, the role of the officials and employees concerned, and the timeframe for filing the final report before the jurisdictional court.A bench of Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar issued the direction in a suo motu case initiated based on a report submitted by the Sabarimala special commissioner regarding the alleged gold heist. On Thursday, S Sasidharan, the investigating officer, appeared in person and submitted a progress report before HC. He informed court that the investigation had reached its final stages and that a detailed report regarding the involvement of the accused persons in the transportation and gold-plating of the dwarapalaka idols in 2025, as well as the role played by the officials and employees connected with the transaction, would be placed before court on June 29.

The officer had earlier informed HC on June 8 that the report could be filed on June 18. However, he now sought further time till June 29, stating that the aspect of criminal conspiracy and the larger circumstances surrounding the transaction were still under investigation.HC observed that sufficient time had already been granted to SIT to carry the investigation forward and bring it to its logical conclusion. Though the transactions under investigation were stated to span several decades and involved the examination of a large volume of records and materials, the proceedings could not be permitted to linger indefinitely.

The interests of justice demanded that the investigation be completed within a reasonable timeframe and with due expedition, HC observed.

However, in view of the investigating officer’s submission that the probe had substantially progressed and was nearing completion, HC granted time till June 29 as a last opportunity.HC also noted from the progress report that, based on the analysis report of the National Metallurgical Laboratory, the investigation had narrowed its focus to the transactions relating to the gold-plating of the dwarapalakas in 2025. The records seized by the investigation team revealed a clear sequence of events leading to the removal of the dwarapalaka idols from the Sannidhanam. According to HC, this was evident from the documents seized during the investigation, the communications exchanged among the accused persons, and the decisions and proceedings of TDB that facilitated the transportation and removal of the idols for gold-plating.