Kerala High Court expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged heist and plundering of gold from the gold-clad Dwarapalakas and other structures of the Sabarimala Sreekovil, and granted the team an additional six weeks to complete the investigation.A Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar was hearing a suo motu writ petition initiated in connection with the alleged removal and misappropriation of gold cladding from the Sabarimala temple.
When the matter came up, ADGP (Law and Order) H Venkatesh, who heads the SIT, Investigating Officer S Sasidharan, IPS, and the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board appeared before the Court in person and placed a comprehensive status report detailing the investigation carried out so far.
As per the report, Crime No. 3700 of 2025 was registered in connection with the removal of gold from the Dwarapalaka idol plates and side pillar plates, in which 15 persons have been arrayed as accused and nine arrested. Crime No. 3701 of 2025 relates to the removal of gold cladding from the side frames of the Sreekovil doors and connected plates; in that case, nine out of 12 accused have been arrested.