SIT issues notice to P S Prasanth in Sabarimala gold theft case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Special Investigating Team (SIT) has issued a notice to former devaswom board president P S Prasanth in handing over Sabarimala gold frames. A notice has also been issued to devaswom board member and CPM leader Aji Kumar. The notice has asked them to appear before the SIT next week. Reports say the SIT will conduct an inspection at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam tomorrow.

The investigation is being conducted in taking the gold frames from Sabarimala to Chennai in 2025. The 2025 incident is a repeat of taking the Dwarapalaka and door frames in 2019. When the color faded, Unnikrishnan handed was assigned to plate the gold in 2019. It was taken in the same manner in 2025 as well.

The initial conclusion is that the gold was not lost during Prasanth's time. However, this can only be confirmed by taking samples from all frames and testing them. The samples will be collected when the temple opens for the monthly puja of Midhunam. The scientific test is being conducted at the National Metallurgical Laboratory in Jamshedpur.

The scientific test found that the gold initially plated in Sabarimala was extracted in 2019 and then plated in a small amount. It is also reported that the filing of the charge sheet will be delayed as more tests are being conducted. In February, the high court had ordered that most modern testing of gold samples is necessary. The sample was sent accordingly. More samples need to be collected. The permission of the high court will be sought for this.