The Kerala High Court expanded the scope of the SIT probe into the loss of gold from the Sabarimala temple, directing investigators to examine a possible wider conspiracy and the role of Travancore Devaswom Board officials.

The order, issued by a Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar, came after the Special Investigation Team submitted its first report in a sealed cover on Tuesday during in-camera proceedings held in the absence of lawyers.

The SIT, constituted by the court earlier this month, is probing the alleged pilferage of gold from the gold-clad dwarapalakas (guardian deity idols) and the side frames of the sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum).

The court noted that "serious irregularities" had been found in the handling of the dwarapalaka idols and their gold plating

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