Sabarimala gold theft case: requests for prosecution sanction made before authorities, SIT informs Kerala HC

The Special Investigation Team probing the Sabarimala gold theft case has informed the Kerala High Court that the request for sanction to prosecute the accused have been made before the Travancore Devaswom Board. 

The prosecution sanction was requested in the case pertaining to the alleged removal of gold cladding from Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. Requests for sanction to prosecute four of the 13 accused were made to the Revenue (Devaswom) Department Secretary. Six of the 13 accused were employed with the Board, and requests for sanction was accordingly filed to the Board. 

As many as 350 witnesses were cited in the final report arraying the 13 persons. The final report also lists 285 documents and 12 material object pertaining to the alleged removal of gold from Sreekovil.

The SIT informed the court that the investigation had reached the final stages in the case related to the alleged removal of gold from the Dwarapalaka idol plates and side plates. It assured the court that the probe will be finalised and prosecution sanction requests would be filed at the earliest. The investigating officer also stated that the final report would be filed before the jurisdictional court after obtaining the required sanctions. 

The case would be heard again on December 2.