Kochi: In a major development today, the Kerala High Court delivered a very strong order in the ongoing case about the gold that allegedly went missing from the sacred Sabarimala Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) idols.
The High Court clearly stated that the alleged theft is not a small, isolated incident. Instead, the court observed that the chain of events, starting with the gold plating work in 2019, appears to be part of a "larger, well-planned conspiracy."
This order puts the officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB)—the body managing the temple—directly under the scanner.
The court gave a stern warning, saying that senior TDB officials cannot simply pass the blame onto their subordinates. Every official, from the top down, has a collective duty to make sure the deity's valuables are protected and not misused or stolen.
What the Court has Ordered the SIT to Do
The High Court has directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to expand its probe significantly:
- Investigate the Wider Plot: The SIT must look beyond just the gold loss from the dwarapalaka idols and side frames. They must uncover the wider criminal conspiracy.
- Identify TDB Collusion: The team must specifically find out if any TDB officials worked together to hide the gold theft and the procedural lapses.
- Seize Records: To protect crucial evidence, the court ordered the immediate seizure of the TDB Minutes Book and all other related records, which will be kept safely by the High Court Registrar.
In a unique move to ensure the investigation remains fair and confidential, the High Court decided to register a brand new case (suo motu). This new case will only include the TDB and the government as parties, keeping the accused individuals out of the formal court hearings for now.
The court has also decided that all future proceedings will be held "in-camera," meaning they will be private. No members of the public or media will be allowed access to the hearings to prevent leaks and ensure the investigation's integrity.
The next hearing in this important, court-monitored case is scheduled for November 5.