Keralam High Court presses for speedy prosecution sanction in Sabarimala gold theft case

A Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar issued the direction on Tuesday while reviewing the progress of the investigation being conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) doorframes and the gold-plated Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple.

During the hearing, the SIT, headed by IPS officer S. Sasidharan, informed the court that requests seeking permission to prosecute the accused public servants had been submitted to the concerned authorities. The applications were forwarded through the Additional Director General of Police (Crimes) to the Secretary of the Revenue (Devaswom) Department and the Travancore Devaswom Board.

The prosecution sanction is required under Section 19(1)(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, before the final report can be filed against the public servants concerned. The SIT informed the court that 13 persons, including 10 public servants, had been arrayed as accused in the case relating to the alleged misappropriation of gold from the temple doorframes. Sanction requests concerning four accused were submitted to the Revenue (Devaswom) Department, while those relating to six others were sent to the Travancore Devaswom Board.

The investigating team also informed the Bench that the final report was supported by 350 witnesses, 285 documents and 12 material objects. The draft charge sheet had received legal scrutiny, and the final report would be placed before the jurisdictional court after the required prosecution sanctions were obtained.

Taking note of the progress report, the Bench emphasised the need to accelerate the process and observed that the matter should be expedited so that trial proceedings could commence without further delay.

On the separate investigation into the alleged removal of gold cladding from the Dwarapalaka idols and their associated plates, the SIT informed the court that the probe had reached its final stage. The investigating officer assured the Bench that the investigation would be completed and requests for prosecution sanction submitted to the competent authorities.

The High Court posted the suo motu proceedings for further consideration on December 2, 2026. The case is being closely monitored by the High Court amid concerns over the alleged misappropriation of gold from one of the most prominent pilgrimage centres in Keralam.