Pathanamthitta: A day after the Kerala High Court asked the Special Investigation Team to register a case on the missing of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols at Sabarimala temple, Justice K Sankaran reached the hill shrine to take inventory of all valuables. The High Court had assigned the retired judge to inspect and list the valuables owned by the hill shrine while considering the vigilance report on the missing gold.

Justice Sankaran had arrived at Pampa, the foothills of Sabarimala, on Friday and trekked to the temple around 8 am on Saturday.

He is accompanied by Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials, including a goldsmith, reported PTI.

The team will complete the examination of the strongroom at Sabarimala and prepare a detailed inventory. According to officials, after completing the procedures there, Justice Sankaran will also examine the TDB’s main strongroom at Aranmula.

A bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar had recommended Justice Sankaran for the task, citing his expertise in such matters. Upon completion, he will submit the report directly to the High Court.

The court constituted the SIT on October 6, taking suo motu cognisance of the missing gold based on a report from the Special Commissioner. According to the report, gold-clad copper coverings of the Dwarapalaka idols and the Peedam on which the idols were fixed were removed without prior intimation.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), with sponsorship from devotee Unnikrishnan Potty, had sent the items to Smart Creations for electroplating. During hearings, the bench noted that the weight of the gold had reportedly reduced by around 4 kg after the idols were handed over to Potty in 2019.

Following the matter coming to light, the Devaswom vigilance conducted an inquiry and submitted a report to the court on Friday.