'Meticulous Investigation Being Carried Out By SIT': Kerala High Court In Plea Seeking CBI Inquiry In Sabarimala Gold Theft Case

The Kerala High Court on Friday (March 13) orally remarked that a very meticulous investigation is being carried out by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which includes some of the best persons in the country, while probing the Sabarimala gold theft cases.

The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was hearing a batch of pleas seeking CBI inquiry into the case. 

"The best persons in the State or in the country are carrying out the investigation. Just give them some sort of a time to carry out the investigation. Basic monitoring is done by this Court also...," the Bench orally remarked.

The Court orally remarked that the case has a long history and sequence of events, and the initial part of the sequence have come out in evidence. Additionally, there are certain procedural formalities to be complied with to ascertain whether the copper plates on the idols and doorframes have been replaced. Since there were only two labs in India, which are equipped to do this, their assistance has been sought and they have agreed to carry out the same.

"Everybody knows that it was originally gold cladded. A report has come. 1998-1999, it is gold-clad, it is there. It was copper plated in 2018, that has also come out. Because of presence of mercury, presence of nickel in 2018. That is done. But, in so far as the copper plates are concerned, whether it has been replaced is the issue. For which, only two analytical labs in India have the resources for that. It has been sent to the best labs in India, which is the National Meteorological Laboratory in Jamshedpur and the Baba Atomic Research Centre. This is not something that we can just, in order to ascertain the quantity, the copper plate is one and the same, only two labs in India have and they have responded to this Court saying that we will do it, we have the ultra-trace impurity analysis. Only two labs in India have. That is also done...If the State or Centre has no labs with...even the Central Forensic Science Laboratory do not have the machinery to ascertain as to whether the copper plates have been replaced, whether the constituents of the copper is the same, what is the amount of this, what is the amount of arsenic. So, very meticulous investigation is being carried out."

Though the petitioners pointed to the observations made in the bail order and how the public perception of the investigation has been affected with the accused being released on statutory bail, the Court orally said that time is required for gathering evidence.

"There should be crux, there should be something to proceed against that particular person and it should...some time is required for the...It is not just a one-off case. It is a long sequence of events and the exact scientific analysis is being obtained and it will take some time for that. The best analysis report in the State of Kerala was the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. Even they don't have the ultra-trace impurity analysis and certain test methods. Only two places in India have it and they do it. And, the report is on its way, It will come down. And the final report can be laid."

The Court also orally remarked that steps are in place to ensure that there would be more transparency from the next season onwards with the digitisation of temple accounts:

"So far as audit is concerned, we have already started the steps. Everything will be digitised before the next season. KITFRA has come in. The K-SMART people are architects for this thing. Software architects have come. They have detailed proposals, domain knowledge and everything is being acquired before the commencement of the next season. Even one prasadam will be for purchase, there will be digital evidence, time stamps will be there. Everything will be audited. Tendering, audit, everything is involved. Even human resources, employment, everything will come under the ambit."

The Court also orally remarked that it cannot interfere in the investigation and can do only a basic monitoring, but cannot be concerned by public perception. It was further assured that if the investigation is found lacking at some point, action can be taken:

"We should consider the perception of the public? This is a crime investigation. The Court cannot interfere in the investigation. We just monitor this. We can't step into the shoes of the investigating officer and say you should do this. We can't do that...We are not concerned about public perception. We only want the investigation to flow perfectly and ensure that the final report is laid so that whoever is the culprit will be held answerable. That is all. Nothing else. We are not concerned. We are taking steps to ensure that everything is done properly. That is all. Nothing else comes to us. We have not seen the public perception...If the investigation is found wanting, at some point of time, something can be done. That is also there. It is all open. Just wait for some more time. Let them file a report."

Since the State sought time to file a counter, a week's time was granted and the matter was posted for hearing.

Case No: WP(PIL) 26/ 2026 and connected cases

Case Title: T.G. Sunil v. State of Kerala and connected cases