Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged pilferage of gold during replating works at the Sabarimala temple to complete its investigation and file the final reports at the earliest, after scientific examinations provided fresh evidence on the alleged modus operandi.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar issued the direction on Monday after examining status reports in two criminal cases linked to the alleged loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) plates and the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) doorframe during replating work carried out in 2019.

The SIT told the court it would file the final report in the Sreekovil doorframe case within 30 days after completing the remaining formalities. It added that the investigation in the Dwarapalaka case was also progressing and sought additional time to complete certain confidential aspects before filing its report.

Scientific findings strengthen probe

According to the SIT, specialised metallurgical examinations were carried out at the CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) in Jamshedpur, the only institution in the country equipped to conduct the advanced tests required for the investigation.

The examinations included X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Optical Emission Spectroscopy.

The SIT said the tests helped determine how the accused allegedly removed the gold cladding from copper plates, assess the quantity of gold allegedly misappropriated, and establish the originality, composition and metallurgical characteristics of the plates.

Investigators also sent stripping salt seized from Smart Creations, the firm that carried out the replating work, to the laboratory to determine whether it could remove gold cladding in the manner alleged by the prosecution.

Referring to the findings, the High Court observed that the final opinion of the National Metallurgical Laboratory provided a comprehensive scientific explanation of the alleged process adopted by the accused.

The Bench said the report explained how the gold was allegedly stripped from the copper plates and identified their composition and metallurgical characteristics. It further noted that the scientific analysis enabled investigators to determine both the quantity and quality of the original gold cladding and the amount of gold used for nano-gold plating by Smart Creations.

The SIT also informed the court that its officers visited the National Metallurgical Laboratory in Jamshedpur between July 9 and 11, where they interacted with the scientists who conducted the examinations and recorded their statements.

Probe nearing completion

The investigating agency said the Sreekovil doorframe investigation had been substantially completed and that prosecution sanction would be sought from the competent authority after the final report is filed.

The SIT further informed the court that allegations relating to the 2025 replating of the Dwarapalaka idols had been clubbed with the earlier case. It said 54 witnesses had been examined in connection with the alleged 2025 transactions.

The High Court observed that the laboratory's findings had also provided fresh insights into the alleged transactions linked to the 2025 replating work.

After examining the status reports, the Bench described the National Metallurgical Laboratory's analysis as a vital component of the investigation.

"The willingness of the institution to undertake this challenging assignment and the quality of the scientific analysis provided have substantially aided the progress of the investigation. No other laboratory in the country possesses the specialised infrastructure, equipment and technical expertise necessary to carry out the sophisticated metallurgical examinations involved in the present case," the court observed.

The Bench added that the prosecution's case relied substantially on scientific and forensic evidence rather than merely ocular or circumstantial evidence.

"Now that the final scientific report has been received, we direct the investigating agency to complete the investigation in the Dwarapalaka case and file the final report before the jurisdictional court at the earliest," the court said.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 3.

Earlier, the SIT had informed the High Court that former Travancore Devaswom Board president P. S. Prasanth, the Travancore Devaswom Board and the Sabarimala Tantri were among those named as accused in an interim report. The investigation relates to allegations that a criminal conspiracy was hatched in 2019 to conceal the use of a lesser quantity of gold than officially claimed during the gold-plating of the Dwarapalaka panels, besides alleged violations in their removal and transportation.

All the accused in the case were granted statutory bail after the SIT failed to file the final report within the prescribed period. One of the accused later died following illness.