Kochi, May 18: The Kerala High Court has granted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) an additional two weeks to complete its investigation into the alleged misappropriation of gold at the Sabarimala temple. The court acknowledged that several inquiries are still pending in the case.
This decision comes shortly after the Congress-led UDF government assumed power in the state. The alleged scam had been a significant issue during the assembly election campaign.
A bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar extended the deadline. SIT officer S. Sasidharan presented a detailed report to the court.
The SIT reported that a major reason for the delay in the investigation is the pending report from the National Metallurgical Laboratory (CSIR-NML) in Jamshedpur. Approximately 36 samples have been sent there for analysis.
The laboratory is employing several advanced techniques to examine the gold plating and metals, including X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and optical emission spectroscopy.
The SIT informed the court that the final report from the lab is expected within the next ten days.
The investigation agency stated that only after receiving the report will it be clear how much gold was used, the extent of the plating, and whether there was any substitution of copper plates.
So far, 391 individuals have been interrogated, and their statements have been recorded. The investigation team has also prepared a comprehensive record of the entire process, including cleaning, buffing, gold plating, coating, and packing. Video recordings of the entire procedure have been made, and forensic examinations of seized mobile phones and digital records are ongoing.
The High Court emphasized that the scientific report is crucial for determining accountability and reaching accurate conclusions in this case. The court also noted that new cases could be filed based on the investigation report, and new suspects may be identified.
The next hearing in this matter is scheduled for June 8.
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