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The Special Investigation Team probing the Sabarimala Gold Theft cases on Tuesday (November 10) told the Kerala High Court that it has submitted the requests for obtaining sanction to prosecute the officials accused in the misappropriation of gold from the doorframes of Sabarimala Temple.

The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was considering a suo motu case initiated to monitor the investigation into the alleged theft of gold from the Dwarapalaka Idols and the doorframes of the Sreekovil of Sabarimala Temple.

Last month, the Court had directed the State Government to expedite the process of obtaining the legal advice required for seeking prosecution sanction, to enable the SIT to submit the final report.

Yesterday, the Court perused the report submitted by Sri. Sasidharan IPS, the officer heading the SIT and noted that sanction requests were made to the Secretary, Revenue (Devaswom) Department and the Travancore Devaswom Board through the Additional Director General of Police (Crimes). It also recorded the officer's submission that the final report will be placed after getting the prosecution sanction.

"Let the matter be expedited so that the trial proceedings can commence without further delay," the Court then said.

With respect to the investigation into the alleged theft of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols, the Court recorded the submission of the officer that the same has neared its end:

"the Investigating Officer submits that the investigation has reached the last lap and he has assured us that the same will be finalised and requests be submitted for obtaining prosecution sanction."

The Court has posted the case to December 2, for further consideration.

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