Kochi: The high court has been informed by the SIT probing the alleged gold heist at the Sabarimala temple that 13 persons, including 10 public servants, have been arrayed as accused in the case relating to the alleged misappropriation of gold from the side frames of the Sreekovil doors and the connected plates.
It was also submitted that prosecution sanction under Section 19(1)(c) of the PC Act has to be obtained from the revenue (devaswom) secretary in the case of four accused, while sanction for six of the remaining accused has to be obtained from the Travancore Devaswom Board. During Tuesday’s hearing, the court was informed that the assistant legal advisor had assumed charge and provided legal advice on the draft charge sheet on Nov 9. It was further submitted that 350 witnesses, 285 records and 12 material objects had been cited to prove the case. Accordingly, the bench adjourned the suo motu case to Dec 2.
Further, the reports in the prescribed form seeking the requisite sanctions have been submitted to the concerned authorities. These submissions were made in response to a suo motu case initiated by the HC concerning the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala temple, in which the court had ordered a detailed investigation by constituting an SIT. Regarding the second case, involving the alleged misappropriation of gold cladding from the copper plates of the Dwarapalaka idols on either side of the Sreekovil, the SIT submitted that the investigation had reached its final stage. It assured the court that the investigation would be completed and that requests for prosecution sanction would be submitted thereafter.
The court had earlier flagged the delay in filing the final reports, noting that the process of obtaining prosecution sanction against the accused had been held up as the appointed assistant legal advisor had not yet assumed charge.