The Sabarimala gold heist saga takes a scientific turn with ISRO’s unequivocal findings: sanctum doors’ panels stand original, gold merely stripped via chemistry. This revelation, shared with Kerala’s SIT and High Court, shatters notions of wholesale replacements or global criminal networks.
Vikram Sarabhai Centre’s lab work exposed the truth—the glittering allure was a gold veneer on copper, not solid metal. The ‘kattil’ wood skeleton remains pristine. Post-theft sheet samples scream depletion, yet copper integrity holds, pointing to a precise, non-destructive peel-off technique.
Panel discolorations? Blame reactive chemicals like mercury, which etch surfaces during extraction, mimicking tampering. Forensic veto on swaps strengthens the case. With old door samples under scrutiny, SIT gears up for a unified report.
As rumors fade, the spotlight intensifies on thieves’ methods and identities. This isn’t just vindication for temple custodians; it’s a blueprint for future probes, blending space-age tech with age-old faith, and heralding a new chapter in transparency for one of India’s holiest sites.