The Kerala High Court on Monday expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged theft and looting of gold from the gold-coated gatekeepers and other structures of Sabarimala Sreekovil and granted the team an additional six weeks to complete the investigation.
A division bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and KV Jayakumar was hearing a suo motu petition filed in connection with the alleged removal of gold leaf from the Sabarimala temple and its misuse.
When the matter came to light, SIT chief ADGP (Law and Order) H Venkatesh, investigating officer S Sasidharan, IPS, and Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board themselves appeared in the court and submitted a comprehensive status report giving details of the investigation conducted so far.
According to reports, crime number 3700/2025 has been registered in the case of extracting gold from the plates and pillars of the Dwarapalaka statue, in which 15 persons have been made accused and nine have been arrested.
Crime No. 3701/2025 pertains to removal of gold plating from the frames of the doors of Srikovil and the plates attached to them; Nine out of 12 accused have been arrested in that case.
The SIT informed the court that 181 witnesses have been examined so far. The investigation begins in 1998, when the gold plating was first carried out by UB Group, and runs through September 2025, when gatekeepers were sent to remove the gold plating.
The investigation is divided into four phases, including gold plating, replacement of doors in 2019, removal of gold plated plates and transactions related to gold plating in 2025.
The Court noted that the SIT has conducted extensive analysis of call data records, seized mobile phones for forensic examination, thoroughly examined bank accounts for suspicious transactions and collected documents to investigate assets disproportionate to known income sources.
Samples of the original plates present at Sannidhanam have also been sent to Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) for scientific examination to ascertain the quantity of gold originally used and whether any changes were made to it.
Seeing the investigation being conducted professionally and thoroughly, the bench said it was satisfied that no stone was being left unturned. The Court also took note of attempts to put pressure on the SIT through speculation and baseless media reports and warned that a “media trial” could undermine the impartiality of the investigation, especially in a judicially monitored case.
The court reiterated that the purpose of court monitoring is only to ensure fair, neutral and effective investigation, and directed the SIT to continue its investigation fearlessly and without outside influence.
The court also allowed the SIT chief to co-appoint additional officers of “highest integrity” as required, provided that such appointment is informed to the court.
Considering the voluminous records and complexity of the case, the High Court extended the deadline to complete the investigation by six weeks and fixed January 19, 2026, for further consideration of the case.
