Isabella Mariam

The High Court of Kerala Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K. V. Jayakumar, on Monday (January 19), said the record before it indicated a systematic process behind the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and door-frame plates at the Sabarimala temple. The Bench took note of a detailed progress report filed by the Special Investigation Team, along with a chemical analysis report prepared by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. In its order, the court directed the SIT to promptly record statements of the relevant scientific and forensic personnel and to correlate the technical findings with the seized material and documents. It also permitted the team to enter the closed temple premises to take further samples and measurements and posted the matter for February 9 for an updated status report.

The proceedings arose from a suo motu action initiated by the High Court of Kerala concerning allegations of theft, substitution, and misappropriation of gold cladding from sacred structures at the Sabarimala temple. The matter pertained to gold-cladded Dwarapalaka idols and related temple assets, following information suggesting irregularities in gold plating undertaken across different periods.

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The State of Kerala, the Travancore Devaswom Board, senior police authorities, and audit officials were arrayed as respondents. A Special Investigation Team was constituted pursuant to earlier court directions to investigate crimes registered in connection with the alleged offences.

During the course of proceedings, the SIT placed before the Court progress reports detailing arrests made, seizure of materials, forensic and scientific examinations conducted, and witness statements recorded. Samples collected from gold plates were forwarded for scientific analysis to expert agencies, including the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. The investigation also examined transactions relating to gold cladding undertaken in 1998 and 2019, with subsequent focus proposed on later transactions. The matter remained under continuous judicial monitoring.

The Court recorded that the Special Investigation Team had placed before it a comprehensive progress report explaining the present stage of investigation and future course of action. It noted that “from the report, it is evident that in Crime No. 3700 of 2025, 11 persons have already been arrested out of a total of 16 accused” and that additional suspects were under scrutiny based on material collected.

With respect to the scientific examination, the Court observed that samples had been collected and analysed, and that “the central focus of the investigation at this stage is to ascertain the precise quantum of gold originally cladded in the year 1998, the quantity of gold used for subsequent plating during the year 2019, and whether the original gold-cladded plates were removed and substituted.”

After examining the chemical analysis, the Court stated that “the apprehensions earlier expressed by this Court stand prima facie reinforced.” It recorded that the absence and presence of specific materials across different plates “clearly indicate a systematic and methodical process by which the alleged offence appears to have been executed.” The Court further noted that the report disclosed the modus operandi and provided “critical evidentiary pointers for correlating past transactions with subsequent activities.”

The Bench recorded that the investigation had expanded beyond the initial scope and that “what initially appeared to be routine administrative actions…has, upon closer scrutiny, opened a Pandora’s box and revealed prima facie indicators of organised pilferage and misappropriation of sacred temple valuables.” It further observed that the materials disclosed “serious institutional lapses, gross mismanagement and possible complicity.”

The Court stated the need for continued diligence, noting that the probe had uncovered “multiple layers of irregularities” and that the gravity and complexity of the allegations warranted a comprehensive and methodical investigation.

The Court directed that “the Special Investigation Team shall expeditiously record detailed statements of the scientific experts, analysts and technical personnel of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre” and that the analytical findings be “comprehensively decoded and correlated with the physical and documentary evidence already seized.”

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“Permission is hereby granted to the Special Investigation Team to collect samples from the gold-cladded plates of the doors and to carry out necessary measurements and assessments for quantifying the gold content.” The SIT may “record detailed statements of the Scientific Officers of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre who conducted the analysis, officers of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram who participated in the seizure proceedings, and the technical team from Kochi which carried out surface measurements.”

 The State Police Chief shall ensure that all personnel and logistical support sought by the Head of the Special Investigation Team are promptly provided without administrative delay. A further comprehensive status report detailing subsequent developments shall be placed before this Court” and that the matter be “posted on 09.02.2026.”

Advocates Representing the Parties

For the Respondents:  Government Pleader for the State of Kerala; S. Sreekumar, Senior Advocate, along with Shri G. Biju, Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board and other respondents

Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala & Others
Case Number: WP(C) No. 40608 of 2025
Bench: Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V, Justice K.V. Jayakumar