HC orders to register case and launch an investigation after gold theft confirmed in Sabarimala

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court said that about 475 grams of gold have gone missing from the gold sheets in Sabarimala. The court also ordered to register a case and investigate. The high court clarified that an impartial investigation is needed in the findings of the vigilance. The state police chief was also made a party in the case. The court took action after considering the final report submitted by the Devaswom Vigilance, which investigated the gold plate controversy.

The court also directed to hand over the report of the devaswom vigilance officer to the devaswom board today itself. The board should then hand over it to the state police chief. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) should register a case and start an investigation based on the police chief's directions. The court also said that the SIT can examine whether there is any irregularity in the gold plating of the lintel and side frames in addition to the copper plates on the Dwarapalaka idols.

The government yesterday formed a five-member investigation team to investigate the weight loss of the golden sheets on Dwarapalaka idols in Sabarimala. In the direct observation of the high court, the team is led by assistant director S Sasidharan of the Thrissur Police Academy. The court had directed crime branch law and order ADGP H Venkatesh to monitor the investigation. Later, home additional chief secretary Biswanath Sinha ordered the formation of the investigation team.

Inspector Anish of Kottayam Vakathanam police station, inspector Biju Radhakrishnan of Thrissur Kaipamangalam, and assistant sub-inspector Sunil Kumar of Thycaud Cyber Police Station are in the team. The home secretary's order said the investigation team was formed on the high court's interim order.