CBI needed to probe Sabarimala gold loot; IB recommends

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Central Intelligence Bureau (IB) has recommended a CBI investigation to uncover the truth behind the Sabarimala gold robbery. A media outlet reported that the report from the state has been submitted to the Director General of Intelligence.

It is learnt that the state police chief will submit a report to the High Court stating that a CBI investigation is required, as the current investigation is under the supervision of the High Court. A CBI investigation is recommended as the case has international and inter-state links. The IB is demanding an ED investigation. However, the state government and SIT are on the stand that a CBI investigation is not required. The report stating that the investigation is comprehensive and that there is no evidence of international links in the case will be submitted to the High Court.

The IB has prepared for preliminary information collection based on the High Court's concern about the international connections in the case. The ED has obtained an order from the court to hand over the information in the case. The ED will register a case related to financial transactions based on the information in the files. The Special Investigation Team has already collected information about the foreign trips of former minister Kadakampally Surendran, who is under suspicion in the case.

Meanwhile, more details of the gold theft are coming out. The SIT has received information that the Thazhikakudam, which was installed on top of the temple's sanctum sanctorum as sacred as a deity after performing all the pujas, was removed and taken to Pampa. This is in the name of repairing and smoothening it.

The three Thazhikakudams above the shrine, the Thazhikakudam of the Kannimoola Ganapati and Nagaraja sub-shrines, the door of the shrine, and the Dwarapalaka sculptures on the sides were also covered in layers of Mallya's gold. The gold panels on the roof of the shrine and the walls on both sides, inscribed with the Ayyappa story, were also covered in gold by Mallya.

It is suspected that the precious small idols of the Shaiva and Vaishnava forms of the shrine and the gold in the sub-deities were smuggled. The SIT will investigate whether more looting has taken place in the shrine. Industrialist Vijay Mallya had already wrapped the shrine in gold in 1998, and the layers containing the Prabhamandalam were covered in pure gold. The Prabhamandalam, which contains the Shiva form and the Vyali form, are in layers weighing about a hundred kilograms. There is no estimate of how much pure gold was in this. The Thiruvabharanam register, which contained this information, was destroyed.