THIRUVANANTHAPURAM The Special Investigation Team, which is probing the missing gold cases at Sabarimala, will soon collect additional samples of the temple artefacts for scientific analysis.
The special investigation team recently approached the Travancore Devaswom Board seeking permission to visit the Sabarimala temple and collect samples of the Prabhamandalam and the upper door frame panels.
According to SIT sources, the TDB has given permission to complete the procedure within two days and the team will soon reach the hill shrine for this purpose.
On June 8, the Kerala High Court granted permission to the special investigation team to collect samples.
The investigation team informed the court that though samples were collected earlier of some artefacts at Sabarimala Srikovil, it was not possible to dismantle the prabhamandalam panels and the upper door frame panel due to objections and practical difficulties faced by the skilled workers involved in the task.
She stated that dismantling the structures and collecting samples with the help of experts was necessary to confirm the actual weight of the artifacts and accurately assess the amount of gold cladding on them.
In accepting the request, the court said it was convinced that this step was necessary at the current stage of the investigation.
The court ordered that the samples be referred to a laboratory for analysis and to fully and conclusively verify the truth of the matter.
Meanwhile, the special investigation team will question former TDB chairman PS Prasanth and former board member Aji Kumar next week, sources said.
Summons will be issued to both of them soon to collect information related to the removal of the artefacts and their transportation to Chennai for replacement without permission from the Kerala High Court in 2025, officials said.
Both were earlier questioned in connection with alleged misappropriation of gold from Dwarapalaka idols and door frames of Sreekovil in Sabarimala when they were taken for replacement in 2019.
The Special Investigation Team recently informed the Kerala High Court that investigations into the two cases registered in connection with the incident have been completed.
As many as 12 people have been arrested in the two cases, all of whom are currently out on bail.
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