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Court Extends Deadline in High-Profile Sabarimala Gold Probe
The has given investigators two extra weeks to wrap up their inquiry into the alleged plundering of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols flanking the Sreekovil at the Sabarimala temple. In an order dated , a Division Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K.V. Jayakumar accepted that crucial scientific reports remain outstanding and postponed the matter to .
From Temple Premises to Forensic Laboratories
The proceedings arose from a initiated by the Court following an earlier order in . The case concerns Crime Nos. 3700 and 3701 of 2025 registered at the , which investigate the suspected removal and possible substitution of gold-cladded copper plates from the temple's guardian deities in . The , State Police authorities and the stand arrayed as respondents.
SIT Presents Progress Report in Open Court
Investigating Officer S. Sasidharan personally appeared before the Bench and placed a comprehensive status report. The has so far recorded statements of 391 witnesses. Enquiries and inspections have been conducted at multiple locations including Smart Creations in Ambattur, Chennai, and several temples in Bengaluru and Sringeri. A detailed documenting the successive stages of cleaning, buffing, gold plating, lacquer coating and packing has been prepared, and the entire procedure stands video-recorded.
Why the Delay? Specialised Tests Still Underway
The principal reason for the extension request centred on the non-receipt of the final analysis report from the . Thirty-six samples forwarded there are undergoing highly specialised examinations: X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy to map surface composition, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for trace-element profiling, and Optical Emission Spectroscopy to study alloy uniformity. Laboratory authorities confirmed that the consolidated report would be ready within ten days.
Court's Reasoning and Key Observations
The Bench observed that these tests are not available elsewhere in the country and are indispensable for establishing the exact nature and extent of any gold plating or possible plate substitution. In unambiguous language the Court recorded:
"It is only after receipt of the analysis report that the complicity and involvement of the various persons connected with the removal of the gold cladded copper plates of the Dwarapalakas during the month of can be properly determined and the culpability of the persons concerned fixed."
The judges further noted that fresh crimes and additional accused persons would also depend on the outcome of the pending report. No precedents were cited; the order rested squarely on the practical necessity of scientific finality.
Political Context and Continuing Public Interest
The extension comes shortly after the new Congress-led UDF government assumed office—an administration that had highlighted the Sabarimala gold issue prominently during the recent Assembly elections. Public attention remains intense, particularly given the temple's religious significance and the substantial quantities of gold involved.
Practical Implications and Next Steps
By granting the additional fortnight, the High Court has ensured that the investigation is not truncated before the specialised metallurgical findings arrive. Once the Jamshedpur report is received, the SIT will be in a position to file a conclusive chargesheet or register supplementary cases. The matter now stands posted for further directions on , when the Court is expected to review the completed exercise and consider appropriate further orders.
