The Kerala High Court has ordered the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to pursue a comprehensive and detailed investigation into the high-profile gold theft allegations connected to the Sabarimala temple, as new technical findings and legal challenges unfold. The direction came during hearings where the Court emphasised that the probe must go beyond initial findings to examine all facets of the suspected crime, including administrative decisions and potential lapses by temple authorities.
Central to the ongoing legal scrutiny is the recovery of a gold-coated vajivahanam—an ornate Panchaloha element that was part of the temple’s old kodimaram (flag mast)—from the residence of former temple tanthri Kandararu Rajeevaru. This item, weighing about 10.68 kg, was handed over to him after the dismantling of the old flag mast in 2017, and its reappearance has raised fresh questions about the chain of custody and procedural transparency. The SIT has told the court that resolving the circumstances around such transfers is critical to understanding whether the alleged theft was isolated or part of a broader scheme.
In the latest hearings, the High Court allowed the SIT to visit Sabarimala to take precise measurements of key structures such as storeroom doors, which may help calculate the actual amount of gold plating originally present—efforts reflecting a methodical approach to evidence gathering. Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K.V. Jayakumar also noted prima facie indications that the theft may have involved “organised and systematic pilferage,” rather than sporadic or accidental loss, amplifying the probe’s scope.
The Court is concurrently considering petitions seeking a CBI investigation, with critics of the SIT suggesting political influence or incomplete inquiry, though judicial authority remains cautious and has postponed final decisions to future dates.
Legal observers say the expanding investigation—integrating forensic evidence, administrative records, and detailed field measurements—could set significant precedents for how religious institution asset safety is ensured under law. The matter is likely to return to court in early February as the SIT continues its intensified, multi-layered inquiry.
News as reported
