Enforcement Directorate Approaches Kerala High Court After Magistrate Denies Access To Sabarimala Gold Theft FIR

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has approached the Kerala High Court challenging a Ranni Magistrate Court order that refused to issue certified copies of the FIR and First Information Statement (FIS) in the Sabarimala gold theft case.The petition invokes Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and argues that the refusal has obstructed the agency's statutory mandate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.The ED contends that the interim judicial records in SSCR No. 23/2025, suggest large-scale financial irregularities involving the alleged forgery of documents and misappropriation of gold extracted from the Dwarapalaka idols and the gold-clad door frames of the Sabarimala Sreekovil by Unnikrishnan Potty and others. According to the petition, the alleged offences, such as forgery under Section 467 of the IPC and violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act, qualify as “scheduled offences” under the PMLA, triggering the ED's jurisdiction. After the Crime Branch registered the crime pursuant to the High Court's order dated October 10, 2025, the ED applied for a certified copy of the FIR before the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Ranni. This application was rejected by the Court observing that the investigation was directly under the monitoring of the High Court and all the investigation relating to the matter shall be conducted by the Special Investigation Team. ED has challenged this order contending that an FIR is a public document under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 and there is no bar in issuing certified copies to another statutory investigating agency. It further argues that the interim orders of the High Court in Sabarimala Special Commissioner Report only restricts media trial and it does not prohibit another investigation agency investigating offences constituted under Special Legislation.The agency has thus sought to direct the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Ranni, to issue certified copy of FIR & FIS of the crime registered in the Sabarimala Gold Loss case. The matter is listed on 17 November for admission. Case Title: Directorate of Enforcement v State of Kerala Case No: Crl. M C 10327/ 2025Counsel for Petitioner: Jaisankar V Nair (SC-ED)

Enforcement Directorate Approaches Kerala High Court After Magistrate Denies Access To Sabarimala Gold Theft FIR

Anamika MJ

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