Sabarimala gold theft case: Kerala HC directs SIT to expedite prosecution sanction

The Kerala High Court has directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with the Sabarimala gold theft case to expedite the process of requesting sanction to prosecute the accused.

The Division Bench of Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was informed that a Factual Report and Draft Charge Sheet had been prepared in the case registered pertaining to the alleged removal of gold cladding from Sreekovil of the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. However, the investigating agency was unable to complete the documents without the legal advice of the assistant legal adviser, who had been appointed, but had not yet taken charge.

Accordingly, Director General of Prosecution Asaf Ali apprised the court that “all necessary steps” would be taken to complete the required documents and proceed with the request for prosecution sanction. The court instructed the SIT to file the final report before the jurisdictional court upon grant of sanction.

The court had previously set timelines for the SIT to request prosecution sanction in both cases, pertaining to the gold from the Sreekovil and the alleged removal of gold from the Dwarapalaka idol plates and side plates. The court directed the SIT to complete the investigation in the case connected to the Dwarapalaka idols, and request sanction within the fixed time frame.