Thirty-six samples collected by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the probe into the alleged embezzlement of gold from the Sabarimala temple have been submitted to the investigating commissioner and special judge (vigilance), Kollam and will now be taken to the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur for scientific examination, the investigating officer (19th Kerala High Court) informed on Thursday.
The laboratory indicated that the tests would be carried out expeditiously and that the results would be provided as soon as possible, free of charge, given their significance.
Based on this, the final report on the alleged misappropriation of gold may be submitted to the jurisdictional court by March 31, the official said.
The SIT also informed the high court that efforts are underway to obtain call data records of the phones allegedly used by some of the accused persons and their interactions from the mobile service providers.
As more than two years have passed, appropriate directions may need to be issued to service providers to secure all available data related to the crime, he said.
In view of the submission, a division bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar granted permission to the investigating officer to serve relevant demands on the mobile service providers.
On receipt of such requests and subject to availability, the service providers will endeavor to provide the data to the SIT, the court ordered.
The investigating officer further said that analysis reports regarding the DVR data and call data records are still awaited. He added that the findings of the National Metallurgical Laboratory will form the very basis and fulcrum of the indictment.
On February 9, the Supreme Court found that advanced forensic and metallurgical examination was necessary to establish a clear, conclusive and legally tenable finding on the allegations of theft of gold from Dwarapalakas and temple door frames.
The court therefore ordered the SIT to conduct specialized scientific investigations, including X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the surface elemental composition; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for ultratrace impurities and elemental profiling; and optical emission spectroscopy for analysis of alloy composition and metallurgical uniformity.
Flagpole
The government also informed the High Court that as per its directives, the Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has appointed Hari CS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, SIU-I, Thiruvananthapuram, to conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations of irregularities in connection with the misappropriation of gold associated with the Sabarimala temple flagpole.
The names of the officers appointed to assist him have been provided and the inquiry report will be submitted within 30 days, he added. The matter was posted for hearing on March 26.
Published – 19th February 2026 21:00 IST