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The Kerala High Court has urged the media to avoid sensationalising reports about the alleged loss of gold from gold-plated copper plates covering the Dwarapalaka idols at Sabarimala temple, stressing that speculative or contradictory coverage could disrupt the ongoing probe and jeopardize the rights of those accused. A Division Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and KV Jayakumar noted that media soundbites are often from individuals with limited knowledge and that premature coverage may infringe upon fair trial principles.

The Court made these observations while overseeing suo motu proceedings triggered by concerns in a Special Commissioner’s report, which revealed discrepancies after the temple’s gold-plated ornaments were sent for repair to a Chennai-based firm without proper Court intimation. Notably, inconsistencies were detected in the weight of items both sent and received, and further investigation found missing entries in temple registers and valuables discovered in private residences.

In response, the bench appointed retired judge KT Sankaran to oversee a comprehensive inventory and ordered an SIT probe led by the State Police Chief, with a directive for the SIT to report fortnightly in sealed covers and to refrain from media interaction. The Court emphasized a balance between public right to information and the need for responsible journalism during ongoing judicial and investigative processes.