The Kerala High Court has instructed a new scientific examination of the gold-coated plates at Sabarimala and called for a special vigilance investigation into the reconstruction of the temple’s flagstaff. Following a request by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), the court has mandated that fresh samples from the gold-coated plates be sent to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai for detailed analysis.
Previously, samples were analyzed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), but the High Court found their report inconclusive, leading to the need for further examination at BARC. The objective of the renewed testing is to determine if the plates were tampered with and to ascertain the actual quantity of gold present, crucial for the ongoing investigation.
The court emphasized that this order is temporary and has directed the SIT to proceed with sample collection once the temple reopens for the monthly worship next week. Additionally, the High Court has initiated a prompt vigilance probe into the 2017 reconstruction of the Sabarimala flagstaff, which was carried out during the tenure of the UDF-led Devaswom Board.
