The Kerala High Court has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the Sabarimala gold‑plating scandal. The court said the team should finish its report in one month and keep the findings confidential, so the case won’t go public.
ADGP H. Venkatesh will lead the SIT, with five members on the panel. The move comes after the Devasom Vigilance report highlighted a shocking shortfall in the temple’s gold plates.
The controversy erupted in the Kerala Assembly, where opposition members staged a heated protest. They carried banners that read “Ayyappan’s gold swallowed by temple officials” and shouted slogans. Speaker A.N. Shamseer halted the Question Hour and adjourned the session temporarily to restore order.
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan accused the Devaswom Board and Minister V.N. Vasavan of hiding the missing gold and demanded that both resign. Satheesan also called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, claiming the issue is a serious breach of public trust.
Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal slammed the protest as undemocratic, while Speaker Shamseer urged calm in the chamber.
Outside the assembly, Satheesan repeated his demands for a CBI investigation and the resignation of both Vasavan and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president. In response, Minister Vasavan welcomed the High Court’s decision. He clarified that neither the state government nor the Devaswom Board has any role in the missing gold. According to him, the government only provides financial help and does not take any money from the Board. Vasavan also said the Vigilance department is already probing the matter.
The SIT’s findings, due in a month, will determine whether the investigation will stay out of the public eye or move forward with a deeper inquiry, including the possibility of a CBI probe.
Source: ianslive
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