The 'Stripping Salt' Trail: SIT Reveals How Gold Was Allegedly Pilfered at Sabarimala

A comprehensive progress report submitted to the Kerala High Court sheds light on the sophisticated methodology used to strip gold-clad temple artifacts.

The investigation into the alleged misappropriation of gold at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam has reached a pivotal juncture. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by investigating officer S. Sasidharan, placed a crucial progress report before a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court this week, detailing the forensic findings surrounding the temple’s gold-plated copper plates. The Bench, comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar, acknowledged that the findings—when read alongside previous reports from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)—finally map out the precise methodology used in the alleged theft.

The Chemistry of the Heist

At the heart of the SIT's findings is the use of a specialized chemical agent. The report alleges that in 2019, the Chennai-based firm Smart Creations utilized a specific "stripping salt," allegedly procured from Mumbai, to methodically remove gold cladding from temple artifacts. Investigators have already dispatched samples of this salt to the National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) in Jamshedpur. Scientists are currently analyzing the substance to definitively link it to the degradation of the temple’s sacred items. This forensic bridge is considered the final piece of the puzzle in establishing how the pilferage was executed.

Despite the progress, the investigation faces logistical hurdles. Certain artifacts, specifically the Prabhamandalam plates and the upper-side door frame plate, remain intact due to resistance from the skilled labourers tasked with dismantling them. Recognizing the need to bypass these barriers to complete the forensic audit, the Kerala High Court has granted the SIT formal permission to dismantle these items under expert supervision. The court’s intervention ensures that the probe into these specific artifacts can proceed without further local obstruction.

A Looming Deadline

The investigation is entering its final phase, particularly regarding the events surrounding the removal and disposal of the Dwarapalakas in 2025. With the SIT requesting more time to finalize their findings on culpability and administrative accountability, the High Court has scheduled the next hearing for June 18, 2026. This date is expected to be a critical checkpoint as the court evaluates the progress against the backdrop of growing public and legal pressure to hold the responsible parties to account.

Why it matters

This case is more than a simple matter of missing bullion; it strikes at the core of temple management and the sanctity of religious assets in Kerala. The move from bureaucratic oversight to forensic metallurgical analysis signals that the judiciary is no longer satisfied with internal inquiries. By involving bodies like the NML and VSSC, the court is setting a precedent for how high-value institutional theft cases are handled. The outcome of this case will likely force a complete overhaul of how the Travancore Devaswom Board inventories and maintains precious metals, as the "stripping" technique reveals a vulnerability that has persisted unnoticed for years. The focus now shifts to whether the final report can bridge the gap between technical proof and the legal accountability of those who authorized or oversaw these contracts.