Sabarimala Gold Theft Case: Special Investigation Team tells High Court final report will be submitted before March 31
In the Sabarimala gold theft case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) On Thursday informed the Kerala High Court that the final report will be submitted before March 31. The SIT told the court that 36 samples were collected for testing the gold plating. The court granted permission to examine the gold plates at a laboratory in Jamshedpur.
The case related to the Sabarimala gold theft, which has continued for nearly three months, is now moving toward its conclusion. Today, the SIT submitted an interim investigation progress report before the High Court. During the previous visit to Sabarimala, the SIT had collected samples from the Dwarapalaka (temple guardian) sculptures. A total of 36 samples were collected and the court was informed that they would be sent to Jamshedpur for scientific examination. The court approved this request.
The SIT informed the court that authorities in Jamshedpur have indicated that the test results can be made available at the earliest. Once this report is received, the SIT expressed confidence that the final report in the Sabarimala gold theft case can be submitted before March 31. The court also directed telecom companies to hand over the phone call data records of the accused to the investigation team.
During the hearing, the government told the court that the Director, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Thiruvananthapuram, has appointed Hari C S, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Special Investigation Unit-I, Thiruvananthapuram, to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegations of irregularities in the misappropriation of gold connected with the temple flag mast at Sabarimala.
“The names of the officers appointed to assist the head of the Investigation Team have also been furnished. It is stated that a report regarding the inquiry shall be submitted within a period of 30 days,” the court noted and listed the matter for further hearing on March 26.
On February 9, the SIT had told the court that samples of artefacts collected from the hill shrine would be sent to specialised agencies, including the BARC in Mumbai, for scientific analysis.
It had claimed that advanced scientific analysis was indispensable to establish, with precision and objectivity, the extent of material alteration, the nature of metallurgical manipulation, and the quantum of gold originally present and subsequently depleted.
It had proposed to conduct X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) to determine surface elemental composition, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for ultra-trace impurity and elemental profiling, and Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) to analyse alloy composition and metallurgical uniformity.
The SIT had told the court that it would be approaching premier national research institutions and laboratories, including the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, and the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad, to undertake these specialised tests.
At the same time, the Kollam Vigilance Court will pronounce its verdict tomorrow on the bail plea of former Devaswom Board President A. Padmakumar, who is an accused in the case. The 90-day remand period in the related Kattilappali case has been completed.