Thiruvananthapuram: The six-week deadline granted by the Kerala High Court to the investigation team probing the Sabarimala gold theft case ends on November 27. With the case scheduled for consideration on December 3, the next interim report is expected to be critical. The matter is returning to the High Court at a time when the investigation is likely to move towards senior figures, including a former minister.

The special investigation team, led by ADGP H Venkatesh, was appointed by the High Court on October 6. The team has already submitted two interim reports to the court. Former Devaswom Board presidents A Padmakumar, a CPM leader and former Konni MLA, and N Vasu are among the prominent individuals arrested so far. The investigation is ongoing to determine whether those who were part of the government during their tenure were also involved in the transactions. The CPM is currently distancing itself from Padmakumar, who is also a member of the Pathanamthitta CPM district committee. The opposition has demanded an inquiry into the role of the then Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran as well.

Samples were collected by the investigation team from gold-plated items, including the door frame and dwarapalaka idols, handled by first accused Unnikrishnan Potti and his associates. The report of this analysis will also be submitted to the court. According to the report by the Devaswom Vigilance SP, 475 grams of gold went missing from Sabarimala. During evidence collection involving Unnikrishnan Potti, gold was recovered from Bengaluru.

The case is being considered by Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar. Bail has not been granted to any of the six arrested accused.

Investigators have seized the passport of arrested accused Padmakumar. The inquiry is examining whether he travelled abroad with Potti. Financial transactions are also under scrutiny. Padmakumar is expected to be taken into custody soon.