Kerala’s Sabarimala temple has been at the center of a gold theft scandal, but fresh forensic evidence from ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre brings clarity. Advanced tests confirm the sanctum sanctorum’s door panels were never substituted. Thieves skillfully peeled off the gold overlay from copper bases using chemical means.

The report, handed to the SIT and filed in Kerala High Court, dismisses wild theories of structural overhauls or foreign gang involvement. Detailed spectroscopy and material assays proved the copper sheets and wooden ‘kattil’ frame are untouched originals.

What was thought to be solid gold turned out to be a plated layer, chemically removed without harming the underlying copper. Repaired sheets exhibit gold depletion, with surface anomalies traced to mercury-based stripping agents that react with metals, altering appearance.

Experts emphasized zero traces of panel replacement. As SIT continues comparative analysis of archival samples, the emphasis now turns to tracing the chemical trail and culprits. This pivotal evidence not only restores faith in the temple’s integrity but redirects investigative resources toward accountability, ensuring justice for devotees worldwide.