Kerala HC Closes Suo Motu Case on Indian Coast Guard Helicopter Flying Over Sabarimala Temple
The Kerala High Court closed suo motu proceedings after police confirmed an Indian Coast Guard helicopter had strayed over Sabarimala due to adverse weather, with a crime already registered and investigation under way.
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court at Ernakulam, comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar, on 18 May 2026 closed a Sabarimala Special Commissioner Report that had been initiated suo motu over the unauthorised movement of a helicopter above the Sabarimala Temple. The court found that a crime had already been registered at the Pamba Police Station and that the Indian Coast Guard had furnished an explanation for the deviation. With the investigation proceeding under senior police supervision, the bench saw no further reason to keep the proceedings alive.
The Helicopter Incident and the Crime Registered
The suo motu proceedings, numbered SSCR No. 12 of 2026, arose from a report concerning a helicopter that flew over the Sabarimala Temple without authorisation. The aircraft bore the marking “Bharatiya Thada Rakshak, CG 821” inscribed in Hindi and was identified as belonging to the Indian Coast Guard.
A crime was registered as Crime No. 93 of 2026 at the Pamba Police Station under Section 118(e) of the Kerala Police Act. The investigation was being conducted under the supervision of the Additional Director General of Police, who also serves as the Chief Police Coordinator at Sabarimala, along with the District Police Chief, Pathanamthitta.
Coast Guard's Explanation and the Court's Assessment
The Office of the Coast Guard, Kochi, was called upon to explain the helicopter's presence over the temple area. The Coast Guard responded that the helicopter had deviated towards the temple area due to adverse weather conditions.
The bench took note of this explanation alongside the fact that a formal criminal investigation was already in progress under senior police oversight. The respondents in the proceedings included the State of Kerala through the Secretary, Revenue (Devaswom) Department; the Chief Police Coordinator at Sabarimala; the District Police Chief, Pathanamthitta; the Travancore Devaswom Board through its Secretary; the Devaswom Commissioner; the Executive Officer, Sabarimala; and the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Advocate Rashmi K.M. appeared as Senior Government Pleader, Advocate G. Biju appeared as Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board, and Advocate Sayujya Radhakrishnan was present as Amicus Curiae.
Outcome
The Division Bench held that, given the registration of the crime and the ongoing investigation under the supervision of the Additional Director General of Police, the suo motu proceedings had served their purpose. The SSCR was closed on the same day it came up for admission, 18 May 2026.