Court consents to police demand for polygraph test of staff members concerning the “lost and found” gold rod at Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple

A magistrate’s tribunal successful Thiruvananthapuram has allowed the constabulary to behaviour a polygraph (lie detector) trial connected astatine slightest 10 unit members regarding the allegedly suspicious betterment of a 13 sovereign golden rod (an estimated 107 grammes) utilized for soldering work, which was reported missing from the iconic Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple for a fewer days successful May.

Assistant Commissioner, Fort, C. Binu, said the constabulary had approached the Judicial First Class Magistrate-11 to behaviour the trial to necktie up definite escaped ends successful the sensational case. 

Officials said the tribunal mandated that the constabulary question the subjects’ voluntary consent and petition that they marque a connection earlier the magistrate. 

The golden rod issued to temple smiths for insignificant works was reported missing for a little play successful May, prompting a monolithic search. 

Based connected a ailment by temple authorities, the Fort constabulary registered a theft case. Investigators reviewed video footage from the temple’s elaborate surveillance camera web for leads. 

Probe mislaid momentum

The probe mislaid momentum aft a hunt squad recovered the golden rod successful a sandpit wrong the temple’s expansive precincts. 

The police, prima facie, concluded that the rod utilized to repair frayed gold-plated panels successful the temple mightiness person accidentally gone missing from the smith’s custody portion helium was transporting it backmost to the temple treasury for safekeeping. 

The temple authorities conducted a preliminary reappraisal of the information arrangements for the beardown room, wherever spiritual artefacts, immoderate of them precious and vintage, were stored. However, the constabulary could not find a solution successful the case, and the probe into immoderate fraud was ongoing.