Sabarimala Gold Theft Probe Reaches Final Stages As Kerala High Court Hears Case Updates

The investigation into the alleged theft of gold from the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple has reached its final stages. The Special Investigation Team informed the Kerala High Court that requests for prosecution sanction for the accused have now been submitted to the relevant authorities.

Prosecution Details

Requests for sanction to prosecute four out of the 13 total accused persons were sent to the Revenue Department Secretary. Meanwhile, requests for the remaining six accused who were employed with the Travancore Devaswom Board were filed directly to the Board itself. The final report names 13 persons in total, alongside 350 witness citations, 285 documents, and 12 material objects related to the removal of gold cladding from the sanctum sanctorum and the Dwarapalaka idol plates and side plates.

Context

The Travancore Devaswom Board manages various temples in Kerala, including the prominent Sabarimala temple, under state oversight. Legal proceedings involving temple property require formal official permissions before courts can begin formal criminal trials against suspects. The case will come up for further hearing before the High Court on December 2.