Kochi: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged gold theft at the Sabarimala temple informed the Kerala High Court on Monday that it had analysed documents relating to the assets of the accused in the case to determine whether they possessed wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income.

The SIT told the court that it collected the records as part of its financial probe into the case. As directed earlier by the HC, the SIT has also initiated a scientific examination to determine the quantity of gold cladding carried out in 1998 and to ascertain whether the original gold-clad plates were replaced with newly gold-plated ones.

“The investigating team has collected samples from the original gold-clad plates at Sannidhanam, and scientific tests are currently underway at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC),” the court was informed.

The SIT said the examination was “highly sensitive and complex” and that scientists were making every effort to conduct the tests comprehensively. “The results are yet to be obtained,” it said, adding that the outcome would be crucial in shedding light on how the gold was allegedly removed, replaced or misappropriated.

The findings, the SIT said, could reveal whether the acts were carried out “pursuant to a premeditated and concerted design by individuals entrusted with the custody and protection of the deity’s valuables”.

Referring to its earlier orders, the Division Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar reiterated that the officers constituting the SIT were directly answerable to the High Court and that the investigation must be conducted with “the highest degree of discretion, integrity and confidentiality”.

“We were informed that no information is being shared by the SIT with any outsider and that the investigation is being kept strictly confidential,” the Bench noted.

The bench expressed satisfaction regarding the manner in which the SIT was conducting the investigation. "Having gone through the detailed report placed before this Court, we are satisfied that the investigation is being carried out in a professional and thorough manner, leaving no stone unturned...The report further discloses that members of the Special Investigation Team have undertaken investigations outside the State in order to secure all possible and relevant evidence. Though attempts were made by certain persons to conceal records pertaining to the transactions under scrutiny, the team has been able to trace and recover vital documentary evidence," the court said.
The bench granted SIT a six-week extension to complete the probe, LiveLaw reported.

However, the court expressed serious concern over what it described as “misleading, speculative and unfounded reports” aired by sections of the mainstream media and circulated on social media platforms.

“Despite clear judicial directions, certain narratives appear to have been deliberately crafted, making baseless imputations against the investigating officers for the sake of sensationalism and optics,” the court said.

The judges warned that such reportage, particularly in matters under active judicial supervision, had the potential to undermine the integrity of the investigation, erode public confidence in institutions and interfere with the fair administration of criminal justice. “Investigations of this nature, involving serious allegations and matters of public faith, cannot be conducted under the shadow of a trial by media,” the court observed.