The collection of samples for scientific testing of gold plating in the Sabarimala gold heist case will be conducted on Monday.
The Special Investigation Team(SIT), probing the case, will collect samples after the Ucha puja (midday puja) on Monday. The decision was taken after getting permission from the Thantri of the Sabarimala temple.
Earlier, the SIT probing the Sabarimala gold theft case had requested permission from the Thantri to carry out a scientific inspection of the gold-plated sheets currently installed on the Dwarapalaka sculptures and door frames at the Sannidhanam.
The formal request was submitted to Thantri Mahesh Mohanaru through the Devaswom Board. The move follows a High Court directive that instructed the SIT to conduct a detailed scientific examination of the gold-plated sheets currently installed on the Dwarapalaka sculptures and door frames.
The part of the frames covered with gold contributed by Vijay Mallya in 1998 will also be examined. Through this, it is expected that the weight of the lost gold can be ascertained.
The Kerala High Court order on November 5 granted the SIT probing the case permission to conduct a detailed scientific examination of the gold-plated sheets currently installed on the Dwarapalaka sculptures, door frames and other artifacts.
The court directed the SIT to conduct a scientific analysis of all relevant artifacts, including the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols, their pedestals (peedhom), and the temple doors.
Meanwhile, in a major development in the Sabarimala gold theft case, the Special Investigation Team is set to invoke provisions of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, following a directive from the Kerala High Court. The SIT is reportedly weighing whether to bring retired and serving Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials indicted in the sensational case, including high-profile political appointees, under the ambit of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The inclusion of the PC Act marks a crucial phase in the investigation as the SIT steps up its probe into the alleged involvement of senior TDB officials.