Overview
- Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K. V. Jayakumar constituted a court‑monitored SIT led by SP S. Sasidharan under the supervision of ADGP H. Venkatesh, with reports to be filed confidentially and within a month.
- Court records note 42.8 kg of gold‑clad items were listed when removed in 2019 but only 38.258 kg were recorded at the Chennai firm, triggering the present inquiry.
- The TDB Vigilance interim report to the court alleges theft and a conspiracy, citing examples such as a drop in a Dwarapalaka layer’s gold from about 1.5 kg to 394 g.
- Two panels reported missing were earlier recovered from the residence of sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty’s sister; vigilance is probing possible private use, a four‑month delay in deposit, and a 40‑year warranty issued in Potty’s name.
- Political fallout intensified as the Opposition disrupted the Kerala Assembly demanding a High Court‑monitored CBI probe and resignations, while a parallel court‑supervised inventory under retired Justice K. T. Sankaran proceeds.