Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Monday granted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala temple two more weeks to complete its investigation, after taking note of the extensive scientific examination still underway in the case.
The decision came hours after the new Congress-led UDF government assumed office, and they had used this scam as one of the biggest points during the Assembly poll campaign.
The extension was granted by a division bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and K.V. Jayakumar after the SIT, represented by investigating officer S. Sasidharan, submitted a detailed status report before the court.
According to the SIT, one of the primary reasons for the delay is the pending scientific analysis report from the National Metallurgical Laboratory (CSIR-NML), Jamshedpur, where around 36 samples have been sent for examination.
The laboratory is conducting highly specialised tests, including X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) to determine surface elemental composition, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for ultra-trace impurity and elemental profiling, and Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) to study alloy composition and metallurgical uniformity.
The SIT informed the court that the final report from the laboratory is expected within ten days.
Investigators maintained that only after receiving the findings would they be able to conclusively determine the exact nature and extent of gold plating carried out over the gold-cladded plates, the quantity of gold involved, and whether any substitution or swapping of copper plates had taken place.
The report further stated that 391 witnesses have so far been questioned and their statements recorded.
Investigators have also prepared a detailed mahazar documenting the processes involved in cleaning, buffing, gold plating, lacquer coating, and packing.
The entire procedure has been video recorded as part of the probe, while forensic analysis of seized mobile phones and digital records is continuing.
Observing that the scientific reports are crucial for arriving at a proper conclusion and fixing culpability, the High Court noted that the registration of fresh cases and identification of additional accused would depend on the outcome of the analysis.
The matter has now been posted for further hearing on June 8.
(IANS)
