Overview
- The Special Investigation Team filed an interim status report with the Kerala High Court on Monday, June 29, naming former Travancore Devaswom Board president P. S. Prashanth and several others and the court permitted a fresh case or incorporation into the ongoing probe.
- Investigators say laboratory work from the National Metallurgical Laboratory and a VSSC technical report show the original gold cladding was removed in 2019 at a Chennai firm, only a thin film was later plated, and a 2025 replating was carried out to hide the earlier loss.
- The SIT reported that it has recorded statements from more than 400 witnesses and seized multiple digital drives that have been sent to the Kerala State Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis.
- The team told the court the Sreekovil doorframe investigation is complete and only the final report remains, while the more complex Dwarapalaka idol inquiry is continuing with the next hearing set for July 20.
- The interim report alleges a coordinated conspiracy by sponsors, contractors and successive Devaswom Board officials and says the materials disclose offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal conspiracy which could prompt new FIRs and supplementary charge sheets.