A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala temple gold theft alleges that gold was systematically removed from multiple sacred artifacts, including the sanctum sanctorum, during repair work in 2019. The SIT suspects the stolen gold quantity is significantly larger than initially recovered, with only 584 grams accounted for so far. Investigators claim gold-plated copper components were misrepresented as ordinary copper, chemically stripped of gold, and then returned to the temple. Several senior temple officials and private individuals are implicated in the alleged organized operation.