Sabarimala gold heist: Kerala HC grants SIT two more weeks to complete probe

Kochi: High court has granted the special investigation team (SIT) an additional two weeks to complete its probe into the alleged gold heist at the Sabarimala temple after being informed that the detailed analysis report from the National Metallurgical Laboratory is expected within 10 days.A bench of Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar further adjourned the suo motu case initiated based on a report submitted by the Sabarimala special commissioner regarding the alleged gold heist at Sabarimala to June 8. Earlier, in connection with allegations that gold had been misappropriated from the gold-clad copper coverings of the dwarapalaka idols on either side of the Sreekovil and the side frames of the Sreekovil doors, the SIT had handed over 36 samples of the plates to the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, for analysis to assess the quantity of gold allegedly lost.During hearing on Monday, S Sasidharan, the investigating officer, appeared in person and submitted a detailed report outlining the present stage of the investigation. It was also submitted that the tests being conducted include X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) to determine the 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.According to the investigating officer, these are highly specialised tests that require considerable time for completion. He submitted that only upon receipt of the report would the investigating agency be in a position to conclusively ascertain the exact nature and extent of the gold plating on the gold-clad plates, the quantity of gold involved, whether any substitution or swapping of copper plates had taken place, and other related matters. Accordingly, HC granted additional time to the SIT.The progress report on the investigation further stated that 391 witnesses had been questioned and their statements recorded. As part of the probe, the SIT conducted detailed inquiries and inspections at Smart Creations in Ambattur, Chennai; Sreeramapura Temple in Bengaluru; Mahalakshmi Layout Temple in Bengaluru; Jalahalli Temple in Bengaluru; and Aadisankaracharya Sannidhi Temple in Sringeri. It was also reported that the analysis of the digital records and mobile phones seized in connection with the investigation is currently in progress.