Kochi: The special investigation team (SIT) probing the alleged Sabarimala gold heist has informed the high court that offences under the PC Act have also been incorporated in the cases and has sought further time to finalise the chargesheets and seek prosecution sanction from the govt.
Accordingly, a bench of Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar extended the timeline till Oct 25 for finalising the chargesheet in the case relating to the removal of cladded gold from the side frames of the sreekovil doors and the connected plates. The court also extended the time till Nov 25 for finalising the chargesheet in the case relating to the alleged removal of gold from the dwarapalaka idol plates and the side plates. During the hearing on Wednesday, the SIT informed the court that offences under Section 13(1)(a), read with Section 13(2), of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended by the Amendment Act, 2018, had also been incorporated in the chargesheet. Section 13(1)(a) deals with criminal misconduct by a public servant involving the dishonest or fraudulent misappropriation or conversion of property. Previously, the SIT had submitted that the final report in the case involving the alleged misappropriation of gold from the sreekovil’s door frames and lintel would be submitted before the jurisdictional court on or before Sept 25. However, on Wednesday, the officer submitted that analysts attached to National Metallurgical Laboratory had sought more time and that the analysis report was now expected on Oct 12, delaying the filing of the final report. On going through the report, the court noted that the investigating agency had cited as many as 292 witnesses to prove the charges. Accordingly, the court granted time till Nov 25 to finalise the chargesheet and adjourned the case to Oct 26.
Regarding the case concerning the alleged misappropriation of gold from the dwarapalaka idol plates, the SIT submitted that the delay in completing the investigation was due to the incidents that led to the transportation of the dwarapalakas in 2025, which had also been clubbed with the present crime. The court was considering a report submitted by SIT chief S Sasidharan on the progress of the probe. It was also submitted that certified copies of the forensic results relating to the data analysis were yet to be obtained. The SIT produced a draft chargesheet for the perusal of the court. In this case too, the chargesheet could be finalised only after receipt of the analysis report from National Metallurgical Laboratory.