New finding says old gold-plated sheets in Sabarimala different from present ones 

PATHANAMTHITTA: There is a breakthrough in the gold-plated controversy in Sabarimala. The new finding is that there is a difference in the present and the earlier gold-plated sheets. The devaswom vigilance informed this. This conclusion was reached by comparing the images of the layers that existed before 2019. This finding supports the claim that the tampering occurred after Unnikrishnan took the layer in July 2019.

The vigilance came to the new conclusion by examining the 2019 layers with the gold sheets, which was renewed again in 2025 and brought to Sabarimala. After the Thulam month pujas, the renewed layers will be installed after the sanctum sanctorum is opened. The gold-plated sheets given by Vijay Mallya is not the one which is in the Sannidhanam presently. However, more expert examination is required to reach an authoritative decision in this regard.

Meantime, the high court has appointed a special team to investigate the gold-plated issue in Sabarimala. ADGP H Venkatesh will monitor the investigation and it will be led by SP S Sasidharan. There are five people in the investigation team. The report has to be submitted in a month. The court directed not to release the investigation report. H Venkatesh is one of the most senior police officers in the state police. H Venkatesh was even considered for the post of DGP in charge of law and order. The government welcomed the decision of the high court. Many including the Congress had demanded a CBI investigation into the gold plating issue.