Kowdiar palace robbery: Special Investigation Team takes over antique Jewellery case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A special investigation team, led by Cantonment Assistant Commissioner G. Ajayanath, has taken over the probe into the two-crore antique gold theft at Kowdiar Palace. Previously handled by the Peroorkada police, the case is now shifting toward a more technical phase involving scientific tests and forensic analysis. The team is currently recording and analysing the statements of approximately 60 individuals, including palace employees, inmates, and security personnel, roughly half of whom had already been questioned during the preliminary investigation.

Despite a detailed initial inspection, no immediate clues regarding the accused have surfaced. The investigation will now focus on collecting fingerprints from the specific cupboard where the theft occurred and examining potential security lapses within the private agency currently guarding the estate. Since the CCTV footage shows no suspicious activity, investigators preliminarily conclude that the robbery likely required the assistance of someone with intimate knowledge of the palace’s interior.

The timeline presents a significant challenge, as the theft reportedly took place in October and November 2025, but was only reported to the police four months later. To bridge this gap, the cyber squad has been tasked with analysing the mobile phone data of those closely associated with the palace. Furthermore, authorities are coordinating with other states to determine if the heist matches the profile of similar antique robberies across the country.