The Kerala High Court on Wednesday allowed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) more time to complete its charge sheets and seek prosecution sanction in two cases linked to the removal of gold at Sabarimala. A Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was reviewing the progress of the probe.
Background
Crime No. 3700 of 2025 relates to the alleged removal of gold from the Dwarapalaka idol plates and side plates. Crime No. 3701 of 2025 concerns the alleged removal of cladded gold from the side frames of the Sreekovil doors and the connected plates. On 3 September 2026, the Bench had asked the SIT to expedite both investigations and file the final report in Crime No. 3701 by 25 September.
Sri. Sasidharan, IPS, who heads the SIT, told the Court that analysts at the National Metallurgical Laboratory had sought more time, and their report is now expected on 12 October 2026. He placed a draft charge sheet in Crime No. 3701 before the Bench, citing 292 witnesses, and said the certified copy of the forensic data analysis results was still awaited.
As the draft includes offences under Section 13(1)(a) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, prosecution sanction (formal permission to prosecute a public servant) is required. He said sanction could be sought by 25 October 2026. For Crime No. 3700, he said the 2025 transportation incidents of the Dwarapalakas have been clubbed with the case, and that once the laboratory report arrives, sanction could be sought by 25 November 2026.
Having gone through the draft charge sheet, the Bench noted the meticulous manner in which the SIT had carried out the investigation and found the time sought reasonable. The Court made its expectations clear:
"We make it clear that, now that the relevant analysis reports have been obtained and the report from the Forensic Science Laboratory has also been received, and having regard to the fact that the investigation in both crimes is stated to be at its final stage, all necessary steps shall be taken to ensure that the request for prosecution sanction in Crime No. 3701 of 2025 is submitted on or before 25.10.2026 and that the corresponding request in Crime No. 3700 of 2025 is submitted on or before 25.11.2026. "
"The Special Investigation Team shall make every endeavour to adhere to the aforesaid timelines and bring the investigation to its logical conclusion without any further delay."
The Court granted time till 25 October 2026 in Crime No. 3701 of 2025 and fixed 25 November 2026 for Crime No. 3700 of 2025.
The matter will be taken up again on 26 October 2026.
Case Details:
Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala
Case Number: WP(C) No. 40608 of 2025
Judges: Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar
Decision Date: October 7, 2026
