Kerala HC Gives SIT Final Chance to Report on Sabarimala Dwarapalaka Gold Heist by 29 June 2026

A Division Bench monitoring the SIT probe into gold stripped from Sabarimala's Dwarapalaka idols has set a hard deadline, warning the investigation cannot linger indefinitely.

The High Court of Kerala, sitting as a Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar, on 18 June 2026 directed the head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged theft of gold from the gold-clad Dwarapalaka idols at Sabarimala to place a comprehensive progress report before the court on or before 29 June 2026. The bench, which took up the matter suo motu in October 2025, made clear it was granting a “final opportunity” to the SIT and that the proceedings could not be permitted to linger indefinitely. The SIT is investigating two crime numbers — 3700/CB/CU-IV/TVPM/D/2025 and 3701/CB/CU-IV/TVPM/D/2025 — registered in connection with the removal and transportation of the Dwarapalaka idols from the Sannidhanam to Chennai for gold-plating in 2025.

The Dispute Before the High Court

The suo motu writ petition, registered as WP(C) No. 40608 of 2025, was initiated by the court on 21 October 2025 following reports of the alleged heist and plundering of gold from the gold-clad Dwarapalaka idols placed on either side of the Sreekovil at Sabarimala. The respondents are the State of Kerala (through the Principal Secretary, Revenue — Devaswom Department), the Travancore Devaswom Board, its Chief Vigilance and Security Officer, the State Police Chief, and the Senior Deputy Director of the Kerala State Audit Department attached to the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Sri S. Sreekumar (Senior Advocate) appeared as Special Government Pleader for the State and the State Police Chief. Sri G. Biju appeared as Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board and its officers.

What the SIT Placed Before the Court

When the matter was taken up on 18 June 2026, Sri S. Sasidharan, IPS, the Investigating Officer of the SIT, appeared in person and placed a progress report before the bench. The bench noted that after receiving an analysis report from the National Metallurgical Laboratory, the investigation had been narrowed and directed towards transactions connected with the gold-plating of the Dwarapalaka idols in 2025.

According to the progress report, records seized by the SIT disclose a clear sequence of events leading to the removal of the Dwarapalaka idols from the Sannidhanam. The bench recorded that this sequence is borne out from seized documents, communications exchanged among the accused persons, and various decisions, orders, and proceedings of the Travancore Devaswom Board that ultimately facilitated the transportation and removal of the idols for gold-plating. The Investigating Officer submitted that substantial and convincing materials had already been gathered indicating the involvement of the accused persons.

The SIT also informed the court that the aspect of criminal conspiracy and the larger circumstances surrounding the transaction remain under investigation. Separately, the role of certain officers of the Travancore Devaswom Board who held responsible positions at Sabarimala during the relevant period is being examined to determine whether they had any active involvement, direct or indirect, in the decision-making process that culminated in the removal and transportation of the idols and plates to Chennai.

The Court's Concern Over Delay

On a query from the bench, the Investigating Officer submitted that the investigation had reached its final stages. He indicated that a comprehensive report detailing the extent of involvement of the persons concerned, the role of each accused in the transactions relating to the transportation and gold-plating of the Dwarapalaka idols in 2025, and the precise role played by officials and employees connected with the transaction, would be placed before the court on 29 June 2026. The Investigating Officer also undertook to indicate, on that date, the time required for completing the remaining formalities and for filing the final report before the jurisdictional court.

The bench did not accept an open-ended timeline. Having regard to the nature and gravity of the allegations, the significance of the issues involved, and the time already granted to the investigating agency, the court expressed the considered view that sufficient time had already been granted to carry the investigation forward and bring it to its logical conclusion. While acknowledging that the transactions under investigation are stated to span several decades and involve examination of a large volume of records and materials, the bench stated it was firmly of the opinion that the proceedings could not be permitted to linger indefinitely.

The court's reasoning was direct: “the interests of justice demand that the investigation be concluded within a reasonable timeframe.” The bench made it clear that the investigation shall proceed with utmost diligence and seriousness and that all necessary steps shall be taken to ensure the matter reaches its logical conclusion without any further undue delay.

Order

The Division Bench granted a final opportunity to the head of the SIT to place before the court, on or before 29 June 2026, a comprehensive report setting out:

• the involvement of the accused persons in connection with the removal and transportation of the Dwarapalaka idols and plates in 2025;
• the role played by the officials and employees concerned; and
• the specific timeframe within which the final report is proposed to be laid before the jurisdictional court.

The matter has been posted for 29 June 2026.