Sabarimala gold loss: Kerala High Court orders SIT probe

The Kerala High Court on Monday ordered a court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into allegations of loss of gold from the golf-plated copper plates that covered the 'Dwarapalaka idols' (door guardian) at Sabarimala temple. [Suo Motu v State of Kerala & ors].

A Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar appointed Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H Venkatesh to head the SIT,  while Assistant Director (Administration), Sasidharan S IPS, would lead the inquiry.

He will be assisted by officers from the State Police, including inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors from different police stations.

"We are of the view that a special team of officers of highest integrity are required to probe into this matter. Sri H Venkatesh IPS, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Law & Order in the Kerala Police can be appointed as head of special investigation team, to investigate all aspects of the matter," the Court's order stated.

The Court passed the order after it was revealed that the person to whom the gold plating work was entrusted had sent an email to the President of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) asking whether he could use some leftover gold from the work for a wedding.

The Court directed the SIT to take over the investigation after the Chief Vigilance Officer submitted his report on Friday.

Further, the Court emphasised that the SIT while investigating the matter must not interact with the press or the public and complete the investigation within one month.

Further, the Court also granted permission to the vigilance officer to open the strong room at Sabarimala in order to compare the Dwarapalaka idols with the photographs taken in 2019, to ensure that all discrepancies are properly examined.

The order was passed in a suo motu case initiated based on a report highlighting loss of gold after gold-plated copper coverings of the 'Dwarapalaka Idols' at Sabarimala were sent for repair works without prior intimation to the Court or the Special Commissioner at Sabarimala.

The TDB had removed the coverings and entrusted them to 'Smart Creations', a Chennai based firm, for repair under the sponsorship of a devotee named Unnikrishnan Potti.

The Court was particularly troubled by reports showing that 42.8 kg of items were handed over to Potti for delivering it to the firm, however, only about 38 kgs items were recorded by the firm as received before carrying out the repair works.

There was a glaring difference of about 4.54 kgs, which the Court took a serious view of and thus ordered a thorough probe into the matter.

Later on, the Chief Vigilance Officer's report revealed that certain gold-plated pedhams were seized by the vigilance team during a search at the residence of one Mini, the sister of Unnikrishnan Potti.

The report also highlighted serious discrepancies in TDB registers and noting that the TDB registers lacked accuracy, the Court appointed retired judge Justice KT Sankaran to oversee the conduct of a thorough inventory of all valuables at the Sabarimala temple.

Today, the Court was told that Unnikrishnan Potti had sent an email to the TDB President stating that he had some gold cladded plates in hand after finishing the repair works. In the email, Potti allegedly asked whether he could utilise the gold for the marriage of a girl known or related to her.

The Court today ordered the SIT probe after noting that various penal offences appear to have been made out in the case. It also noted that the alleged conspiracy was not limited to Potti but also involved officials who handled the gold in violation of norms.

Senior government pleader S Rajmohan appeared for the State.

Standing counsel G Biju represented the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Advocate Sayujya Radhakrishnan appeared as an amicus curiae for the Sabarimala Special Commissioner.

Advocates R Sudhish and M Manju represented Unnikrishnan Potti.

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