Noting that the Special Investigation Team was conducting a satisfactory investigation in the Sabarimala temple gold embezzlement case, the Kerala High Court verbally observed that there was no need for a CBI probe in the matter.
Moreover, the investigation is under the supervision of the Supreme Court, the court said while hearing a number of petitions seeking a CBI probe in the case. Everyone knows that the idols and door frames of the temple were gilded (in 1999). A probe (to assess the amount of gold) is carried out in two laboratories and takes time. A report is expected in a week.
“We hope that there will be more transparency in such matters as the temple accounts are in the process of being digitized. So everything will be audited, including human resources and proceeds from sale of prasadam,” the court said.
On February 9, the Supreme Court found that advanced forensic and metallurgical examination was necessary to prove the allegation of theft of gold from Dwarapalaks and temple door jambs. Subsequently, 36 samples collected by the SIT as part of the probe into the missing gold from the Sabarimala temple were taken to the National Metallurgical Laboratory in Jamshedpur for scientific examination.
Published – 13 March 2026 19:59 IST
