The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged Sabarimala gold scam is set to submit a crucial scientific report prepared by the National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur, before the Kerala High Court on Monday. The report is expected to play a key role in the ongoing investigation and could pave the way for the filing of the chargesheet in the case.
Based on the High Court’s observations and directions after examining the report, the SIT is expected to expedite further legal proceedings. Once the report is submitted, the court will review its findings and issue appropriate orders, following which investigators are likely to move ahead with filing the chargesheet.
The report had earlier been submitted before the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) in Kollam on May 29. It is based on a detailed scientific examination of 36 samples collected in connection with two cases registered as part of the wider investigation.
According to the SIT, the findings of the NML report will form the very foundation of the prosecution’s case. Sources indicate that the analysis sheds light on the methods allegedly used to separate gold from the claddings and provides important evidence regarding the quantity of gold originally present on the structures.
As Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No.1 Radio Station, understands, investigators consider the report a crucial piece of evidence that could scientifically establish whether the original gold cladding was removed and subsequently replaced with a thinner layer of gold.
In February 2026, the Kerala High Court observed that an advanced forensic and metallurgical examination was essential for the investigation. The court noted that the results would form the basis upon which the prosecution must establish the allegations in a clear, convincing and legally sustainable manner.
To ensure a comprehensive analysis, the High Court directed the SIT to undertake specialised scientific examinations, including X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) to determine surface elemental composition, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for ultra-trace impurity and elemental profiling, and Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) to examine alloy composition and metallurgical uniformity.
The investigation itself has progressed through multiple phases. During the first phase, the SIT collected documentary evidence establishing that the sanctum sanctorum, side frames, pillar plates, Dwarapalakas and allied structures at the Sabarimala shrine were originally clad with gold by McDowell and Company.
In the second phase, investigators gathered documentary and oral evidence related to the replacement of the old sanctum sanctorum door with a newly gold-plated door in 2019. The inquiry focused on the execution, supervision and completion of the project.
The third phase centres on allegations that Dwarapalaka plates, side plates and door frames were removed with the intention of misappropriating the original gold cladding. Investigators suspect that these structures were later re-plated using significantly smaller quantities of gold in an attempt to conceal the alleged theft and misappropriation.
The SIT has reported that substantial oral evidence has already been collected. Preliminary scientific examinations suggested that the original gold cladding may have been removed and replaced through fresh surface plating of lesser thickness. Investigators therefore opted for advanced scientific analysis to accurately determine the extent of material alteration, the nature of any metallurgical manipulation, and the quantity of gold that may have been originally present and subsequently depleted.
The Kerala High Court’s consideration of the NML report is expected to mark a significant milestone in the investigation, with the findings likely to influence the next phase of prosecution and the eventual filing of charges in the case.
