Sabarimala Has Original Copper Sheets, but Gold Stripped Off, VSSC Scientists Confirm
Thiruvananthapuram: In the gold theft case at Sabarimala, the statements given by scientists from VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) have become crucial. They have informed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that tests have confirmed that the layers currently present at Sabarimala are indeed genuine copper sheets. The SIT will inform the High Court of this finding.
With this, the investigation is moving toward the conclusion that the copper sheets themselves were not completely replaced, but that the quantity of gold that was on the sheets has been reduced.
with experts confirming that the sanctum door panels were not replaced and that the crime involved the stripping of gold from copper-plated sheets.
The statement also says that when the main accused in the case, Unnikrishnan Potti, took the sheets to Chennai and brought them back, the amount of gold on the sheets had significantly decreased. It is stated that the gold was separated through chemical processes, which caused structural changes to the sheets, and that the presence of certain chemical substances has been detected.
As per the High Court’s directive, tests were conducted at VSSC to determine the age of the copper sheets. The report of this examination was submitted to the High Court. To gain further clarity, the court had directed the SIT to record the statements of the scientists.
The court ordered the scientific examination based on the suspicion that the gold-coated copper sheets submitted by the UB Group in 1998 were taken away from Sabarimala by the accused and possibly sold to others. Meanwhile, there is still uncertainty over whether the report submitted by VSSC can be considered as primary evidence in the case.
The SIT has informed the High Court that further analysis remains underway, including comparative testing of samples collected from the old sanctum door.
VSSC officials have indicated that a consolidated final report, incorporating these comparative results, will be submitted shortly.