The Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. (File)
A magistrate’s court in Thiruvananthapuram has allowed the police to conduct a polygraph (lie detector) test on at least 10 staff members regarding the allegedly suspicious recovery of a 13 sovereign gold rod (an estimated 107 grammes) used for soldering work, which was reported missing from the iconic Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple for a few days in May.
Assistant Commissioner, Fort, C. Binu, said the police had approached the Judicial First Class Magistrate-11 to conduct the test to tie up certain loose ends in the sensational case.
Officials said the court mandated that the police seek the subjects’ voluntary consent and request that they make a statement before the magistrate.
The gold rod issued to temple smiths for minor works was reported missing for a brief period in May, prompting a massive search.
Based on a complaint by temple authorities, the Fort police registered a theft case. Investigators reviewed video footage from the temple’s elaborate surveillance camera network for leads.
Probe lost momentum
The investigation lost momentum after a search team found the gold rod in a sandpit within the temple’s expansive precincts.
The police, prima facie, concluded that the rod used to repair frayed gold-plated panels in the temple might have accidentally gone missing from the smith’s custody while he was transporting it back to the temple treasury for safekeeping.
The temple authorities conducted a preliminary review of the security arrangements for the strong room, where religious artefacts, some of them precious and vintage, were stored. However, the police could not find a resolution in the case, and the investigation into any fraud was ongoing.
Published – November 08, 2025 05:06 pm IST
