Copyright thehindu
The Kerala High Court-appointed special investigation team (SIT) probing the misappropriation of gold-plated panels from the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple is reportedly weighing the potential use of portable electronic metal testers to quantify the amount of gold in the original gilded moulds donated by industrialist Vijay Mallya to cover the iconic shrine’s stone carvings, sloping roof and sculptures in 1998. Officials said such devices, which use X-ray-based technology for on-the-spot analysis, might help investigators estimate the gold content of the original alloy encasings without damaging them. Other options were reportedly on the table as well. Officials said testing the gold content in the roof panels and other encasings would perhaps provide the SIT with a baseline for comparing the metallurgical nature of the original gilded panels with those returned to the temple after restoration by the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, in 2019. Officials said the SIT appeared to be following an ‘investigate-first-and-indict-later’ approach in the high-profile case. A metallurgical comparison of the original panels with those returned after restoration could provide the SIT with a scientific basis and foolproof forensic evidence to clinch its embezzlement case against the suspects. Officials pointed out that the High Court had tasked the SIT with reweighing the panels returned after restoration, first in 2019 and later in 2025, to detect discrepancies, if any, and also set a broad template for the current phase of the investigation. They said the SIT has to tie up several loose ends in the case. It has so far arrested three persons, including Mr. Potti and TDB administrative officer Murari Babu, and executive officer D. Sudheesh Kumar, in the politically sensitive and religiously emotive case. In court filings, the SIT has indicted the TDB officials for facilitating the suspected fraud by “wilfully certifying” the gold-plated panels as made of unalloyed copper in 2019. It subsequently questioned N. Vasu, former Devaswom Board Commissioner, but had yet to name him in the first information report (FIR). Next phase Officials said the next phase of the investigation might involve examining whether the suspects had smelted the panels for gold or replicated the moulds in cheaper alloys to sell the original gilded encasings to wealthy collectors. Notably, they said, the SIT was likely to take a call on whether or not to indict the management of the Chennai-based metal works factory, which Mr. Potti had contracted to refurbish the coverings to their original golden sheen. Furthermore, according to officials, the SIT might interview celebrities, including film stars, who allegedly abetted Mr. Potti’s bid to monetise the gilded panels entrusted to him for restoration, by chartering the artefacts for private worship. Closed-door meeting Meanwhile, the SIT chief, Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order and Crime Branch, H. Venkatesh, and Investigating Officer P. Sasidharan, were chairing a closed-door meeting at the State Police Crime Branch Office at Enchackal, Thiruvananthapuram, reportedly to chart the next phase of the probe.
